Astoria SD 1 board hears audit filing, warned enrollment dip could cut state funding

Astoria SD 1 officials told the board the district submitted the financial portion of its audit to the state department on Jan. 2 and is preparing revenue and membership estimates for the coming fiscal year. The chair (Chair, S1) said the district will route the full audit document and aims to have budget materials ready by February.

Board members also discussed recent enrollment declines. A committee member (Committee member, S4) said the district’s estimate to the state is below 1,700 students and warned that if the final headcount falls under that threshold the district will lose funding for roughly 26 students. Board members said they will treat the shortfall as part of the supplemental budget process and forecast reductions during budget development.

The chair reviewed grant support for preschool: the early learning and care grant funds one full‑time teacher and two part‑time instructional assistants and covers supplies, equipment and substitute costs for the district’s preschool program.

Facilities and maintenance updates included a report that the new high‑school boiler had arrived on site and was expected to be in place around late February or early March, and that the district handled HVAC filter changes and playground repairs internally as a cost‑saving step.

Nut graf: The combination of an audit in process, an enrollment estimate below a key state funding threshold and routine capital/maintenance work sets the framework for budget decisions the district will make ahead of the 2025–26 school year. Board members signaled they will use the regular budgeting timeline and supplemental budget process to reconcile enrollment and revenue estimates.

Board action recorded in the transcript was procedural: a voice vote carried to approve listed unfinished business items during the meeting; no vote tallies by name were recorded in the transcript.