District 70 reports first-quarter finances; nutrition program revenue funds kitchen upgrades and student services

Pueblo County School District 70 staff briefed the board on first-quarter finances and detailed how revenue from the Healthy School Meals program is being used to support operations and capital projects.

Finance lead Wagner said the district planned to use about $2,700,000 of fund balance as the district’s match for a BEST grant and explained an upcoming request for proposals for property and casualty and workers’ compensation brokerage services.

Nutrition services (presented by staff identified in the meeting as Mr. Axworthy) reported the district is about 44% free-and-reduced-price eligible and that the Healthy School Meals program pays approximately $4.69 per lunch and $2.94 per breakfast. "We make approximately set $40,000 a day with the meals that we serve," the nutrition services presenter said, adding that excess revenue is reinvested in the program.

Planned uses and projects named in the presentation include a proposed Pueblo West High student coffee shop (listed at about $300,000) and a walk-in refrigerator and related renovation at County High (approximately $60,000). The nutrition director said these projects are funded from nutrition services’ excess revenue rather than general fund operating dollars.

The student athletic fund was also discussed: the presentation lists fees and gate receipts (shown in the packet at 697,350 in transcript text) and a $1,500,000 transfer from the general fund to cover coaches’ salaries, busing and other athletic costs. The board was told the district's audit was completed successfully.

What’s next: Staff invited board members to review the detailed packet and to follow up with questions about specific line items. No formal budget adoption or amendment was recorded at the Nov. 11 meeting.