SFUSD Board adopts 2019–20 LCAP update and recommended budget; district affirms reserves and EPA spending plan

At its June 25 meeting the San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education adopted the fiscal year 2019–20 recommended budget and the annual update to the district's Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). The board also approved the district's substantiation for maintaining reserves above the state's minimum for economic uncertainty and approved the Education Protection Account (EPA) expenditure plan for 2019–20.

Sonny Sarker, executive director of budget services, reviewed stakeholder engagement, the content of the budget book and online materials, and the state's filing requirements. The board recorded roll-call approvals for the LCAP annual update and for adoption of the recommended budget, and authorized the superintendent to make technical transfers, convert district totals to the state standardized account code structure and transmit the documents to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction by the statutory deadline.

Rita Madhavan, the district's chief financial officer, presented the substantiation for reserves and explained the rationale for holding an excess reserve for economic uncertainty and for other fiscal contingencies. The board approved the reserves substantiation on roll call.

Finally, the board approved the district's Education Protection Account spending plan for 2019–20 in accordance with state rules that govern EPA funds. Commissioners thanked budget staff for their work and noted that multiple board resolutions adopted that evening will be considered in the deployment and prioritization of available resources.

The actions complete the statutory budget-adoption cycle and allow the district to proceed with implementation and state filing.