Cypress trustees approve facilities master plan, certify unaudited 24/25 actuals and adopt routine resolutions

At their Sept. 11 meeting, the Cypress School District Board of Trustees approved the 2025–26 Facilities Master Plan, certified unaudited 2024–25 actuals and adopted a package of consent items and resolutions covering insurance, contracts and district governance.

Budget and certification: Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Larry Kershaw presented the district's unaudited actuals for fiscal year 2024–25, reporting total revenue of about $54.2 million and total expenditures of about $58.4 million, a difference of roughly $4 million. Kershaw said the district ended the year with an unrestricted ending fund balance of about $1.75 million, which corresponds to the required 3% reserve for economic uncertainty.

Kershaw explained the district used approximately $2.7 million in one-time funds (deferred maintenance fund, accumulated redevelopment revenues and one-time state block grant funds from 2022–23) to meet the reserve requirement. He noted increased restricted expenditures, particularly for special-education staffing and services, and unexpected invoices from the SELPA that contributed to the variance. The board voted to certify the unaudited actuals and will host auditors for an October site visit.

Facilities and consent items: Trustees adopted the 25/26 Facilities Master Plan after brief discussion about park/playground responsibility tied to school sites; staff said the city is understood to be responsible for landscaping and playground equipment under existing agreements but verification with the city was pending. The board also approved contracts/agreements including participation in Eat Real Certified, a voluntary student insurance agreement with Gerber Life, participation in the VIVA pooled benefits trust for 2026 employee health insurance, ratifications tied to special-education settlements, and the annual GANN (appropriations) limit resolution.

Policy and governance: The board adopted the 2025–26 district goals and strategies (including a reinstated goal on school safety and staff/student health) and the updated governance handbook.

Votes at a glance: The meeting record shows unanimous voice votes for the agenda, consent calendar, Resolution 25/26-2 (instructional materials), ratified special-education settlements and provider agreements, adoption of Resolution 25/26-3 (Red Ribbon Week), approval of the facilities master plan, contracting with Eat Real Certified, ratification of the Gerber Life Insurance agreement, approval of VIVA participation for 2026, adoption of Resolution 25/26-5 (GANN limit), certification of the 24/25 unaudited actuals, adoption of district goals and the governance handbook.

What trustees said: Trustee Saini praised the facilities master plan as a comprehensive roadmap; Trustee Sandeep and others commended Child Nutrition Director Parisa for improving meal services. Kershaw said the district will revisit budget projections at first interim and meet with the budget committee on Oct. 22.

Ending: The board adopted the resolutions and certified the unaudited actuals; auditors are scheduled for an October site visit, and the district will present a first interim budget report in December.