Adelanto board approves 2024-25 unaudited actuals as trustees and public press for answers on rising special-education costs

Craig McAlpin, the district

Business Services consultant, asked the board to approve the Adelanto Elementary School Districts 2024-25 unaudited actuals, saying the report closes the books for the year that began July 1, 2024 and ended June 30, 2025. McAlpin said the unaudited actuals must be approved by the board on or before Sept. 15 and then submitted to the San Bernardino County Office of Education for review.

Director of Fiscal Services Zach Klimish detailed expenditures, saying higher substitute and staffing costs pushed up certificated and classified salaries while benefit adjustments (an EPA adjustment tied to LCFF calculations) reduced benefits by about $1.2 million. Klimish reported total reported expenditures of about $94 million and said the district met the 60% CEA requirement at 60.48%.

Trustees asked for additional detail on contributions, which McAlpin and Klimish linked primarily to SELPA expenses (services provided by other districts and county programs) and transportation. Trustee Charles Krauss identified a jump in the district contribution from an estimated $21,000,000 to a closing contribution of $23,000,000 and asked whether special-education costs or "over-identification" were factors; staff said late-year closeouts and regional services that the district pays for were key drivers.

Several trustees pressed staff to provide updated budget detail before the first interim report in December. Klimish summarized ending balances and reserves: the district began the year near $19.3 million, reported an audit adjustment and a net decrease that left an ending balance of about $6.2 million; after non-spendable and reserve set-asides, the unassigned balance was about $326,000.

Public speakers, including Jennifer Rader of ADTA, used the meeting's public-comment period to urge rapid contract settlements for certificated and classified staff, saying employees have gone 15 months without an executed contract and are experiencing financial hardship from rising health-care premiums and frozen cost-of-living adjustments.

After discussion, Trustee Stewart moved to approve the unaudited actuals and Trustee LaFrenche seconded; the board voted 5-0 to approve the report. McAlpin said the district will send the approved report to the county office for review and that the first interim budget presentation will follow in December.

Ending note: the board recorded several outstanding data requests and trustee requests for follow-up detail on SELPA-related contributions, fund 14 transfers, and school-site lottery/discretionary funds; staff committed to returning with clarifying information before the first interim.