Finance committee recommends purchasing agreements and sets budget calendar through June

Mr. Ridley, chair of the finance committee, said the committee reviewed the reporting structure and recommended four items for the board to consider: a consortium purchasing agreement with the Delaware County Intermediate Unit for a frontline professional-development system; approvals for the superintendent to attend two conferences; and a three-year maintenance/security agreement with Advanced Electronic Security at $36,001.47 per year to be paid from the general fund.

"Mr. Butler told us flat out. He said when he took over, the school district was in a hole and he did a remarkable job helping to bring us up out of the hole," Ridley said in explaining the committee’s discussions on transparency and reporting.

Mr. Butler (business manager) answered follow-up questions about costs and presented the district budget calendar. "March 19, we are planning to talk about most of the budget line items," Butler said, listing that the March session will cover objects 300–900 (contracted services through debt-service interest), while April 16 will address objects 100–200 (salaries, payroll and benefits). The board must adopt a proposed (preliminary) budget on April 23 under state guidelines, with final adoption scheduled for June 25, 2026.

Ridley and Butler said the committee intends to break out building-level budgets and hold working sessions so each facility better understands its spending authority. The committee reached consensus and recommended the finance items be placed on the board business agenda.