AUHSD business services outlines $556M budget plan, $496M bond and projected enrollment decline

Nancy Nian, assistant superintendent of business services for the Anaheim Union High School District, told meeting attendees the district’s 10-year multiyear budget is $556,000,000 and that current enrollment is approximately 25,000 students (down from nearly 33,000 at its peak). She warned the district is projecting continued enrollment declines and said business services works closely with HR and educational services to align staffing projections with enrollment.

Nian described district operational scale: roughly 2,800 employees on payroll, about 4,400 purchase orders issued last year and more than 730 technology work orders. She said the district saved over $400,000 in one year through centralized purchasing and noted the district oversees payroll, accounts payable/receivable and auditing functions.

On capital improvements, Nian said voters recently approved a $496,000,000 bond to fund modernization projects across sites, naming track and field improvements at high schools and a planned modernization of Handel Stadium. She said the district expects to pursue roughly $150,000,000 in state matching funds to supplement bond proceeds for major projects.

Nian also noted ancillary services the district runs, including transportation (daily bus routes serving around 1,600 students on 66 routes) and food services (the district provided about 6,200,000 meals last year, split roughly between 1.7 million breakfasts and 4.5 million lunches) and said special accommodations such as Ramadan meal kits will be offered.

Outlook and next steps: Nian said business services will continue multi-year budget forecasting to respond to declining enrollment and will coordinate bond project planning and state-matching applications.