District auditor gives clean opinions; CFO reports $11M net position improvement

External auditors from Ritchie May presented the district's completed fiscal audit and issued three clean opinions, reporting no findings in the single-audit testing of federal awards. Auditor remarks praised district staff and singled out improvements that moved the district from a previously 'high risk' classification to 'low risk' for federal award testing.

CFO Tristan Green told the board the district's net position increased by roughly $11,000,000 over the reporting period and that revenues grew faster than expenditures in the fiscal year-to-date overview. Green also explained the district's special reserve of $1,000,000 set aside for facility use and walked trustees through high/low revenue and expenditure scenarios tied to potential property sales. He noted that depending on the mix of sales and renovation choices the district could expect a bankable range that includes approximately $558,000 under one scenario and a multi-hundred-thousand-dollar gap under another.

Trustees voted to accept the audit and then approved the monthly financial reports by voice vote. During discussion, trustees asked for page references to follow the auditor’s presentation and thanked staff for improvements in timeliness and accounting practices.

CFO Green also gave an update on food service innovations: grab-and-go options at the high school to reduce line times and prepackaged produce at elementary schools to ensure reimbursable meals. The board approved a motion to accept monthly financials and proceed with recommended payments and preauthorizations.

Next steps: staff will provide design- and property-specific revenue estimates as RFPs and offers move forward; auditors and CFO will continue to monitor grant compliance and single-audit testing.