Aberdeen board approves $800,000 interfund transfer and $105,000 contingency to cover technology and special‑education needs

The Aberdeen School District 06-1 board on June 23 approved multiple budget moves, including an $800,000 transfer from the district’s Capital Outlay fund to the General Fund and a transfer of remaining bond‑redemption assets into the General Fund.

At the start of the board’s budget discussion, the superintendent introduced an annual review and said staff would present interfund transfers and a supplemental budget. Mikayla, a district staff member identified during the meeting, told the board the Capital Outlay transfer had been budgeted and must be approved to complete the transaction. She also said staff would move about $528,000 in remaining bond‑redemption net assets to the General Fund after the recent CHS bond was paid off.

Staff described the supplemental budget items the board was asked to adopt. The board was asked to transfer $105,000 from contingency to the General Fund to cover increased nurse services (including substitute costs), higher property liability insurance premiums, supplemental general capital outlay, and special‑education funding. Mikayla said the district must supplement the middle school function by $50,000 and the high school function by $640,000 for financial statement purposes while miscellaneous revenue offsets would prevent a net effect in some areas.

School finance details flagged in the presentation included a projected $945,000 increase to technology spending because the district purchased iPads this year earlier than budgeted; food service had an early truck purchase previously budgeted for next year; and special‑education costs rose in part because out‑of‑district placements were more expensive than planned. Staff said one out‑of‑district placement at LifeScape costs about $229,000 per student per year, so even a single additional placement has a significant budget impact.

Board members moved and voted on the interfund transfer and then the contingency transfer and supplemental budget. The motions passed by voice vote. A motion to transfer the Capital Outlay and bond redemption funds was made by an unidentified board member and seconded by Mister Auld; the contingency transfer and supplemental budget motion was moved and seconded and also approved by voice vote.

The board’s action completes the accounting steps staff said were necessary to reflect the district’s actual fund balances and to provide funding for the early technology purchase, increased special‑education payments and other unanticipated costs. The district noted the CHS bond is now paid off and the bond‑redemption account no longer has ongoing activity other than occasional delinquent tax collections.

The board moved on to other items after approving the transfers and supplemental budget.