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River Valley principal warns restricted state funds complicate school's budget despite enrollment gains
Summary
Brooke Bacon told the Lakeside Union Elementary board that River Valley saw small enrollment gains and strong AP/PSAT results but is experiencing general-fund pressure because the state's one-time and restricted funds cannot be freely spent. She outlined staffing turnover, student achievements and planned uses of behavioral health funds.
Brooke Bacon, representing River Valley charter school, told the Lakeside Union Elementary Board of Trustees that the school ended the year with modest enrollment gains but continues to feel budget pressure because much of the state aid it receives is restricted. “The state keeps throwing us money, and they keep throwing us money in restricted funds that we can't use, which is causing us to then have an overrun with our general fund and creating a little bit of a headache for us,” Bacon said.
River Valley started the school year with 230 students and finished with 229, Bacon said, up from a pandemic low of 218. She said the school relies on attendance tied to work completion for funding under independent-study rules and reported a high average daily attendance (ADA) figure of about 228.71 for the year. Bacon said the school lost 23 students during the year for reasons including noncompliance with independent study and family moves.
The principal described staffing changes and retirements: three staff members retired this month, two of whom had served 26 and 27 years. The school employs 11 teachers (nine full time, two part time), eight classified staff and one counselor. Bacon said an unexpected counselor departure in December created strain during the spring semester but staff worked to ensure seniors had the records needed for college applications.
Bacon highlighted student outcomes: an 83% AP pass rate for students who took AP tests last year; strong PSAT performance by current juniors that could yield one National Merit semifinalist and one commended scholar; three seniors who graduated with dual enrollment credit in Spanish and Chinese; and a senior who completed 17 college courses. She also noted some declines in English-language arts results that merit further analysis.
Bacon outlined extracurricular partnerships and campus improvements: a campus trade fair and career events, a partnership with Miramar College's aviation department that will donate two Redbird flight simulators, a planned maker space and wellness centers funded by Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative dollars. She thanked Lakeside's oversight for support and said the charter values the accountability relationship with the district.
Board members offered brief thanks and asked about student visits and transportation; Bacon said transportation remains a barrier for a charter whose students come from across San Diego County.
River Valley did not ask the board for formal action during the presentation.
