School board adopts midyear budget adjustments after public hearing; no speakers at hearing

The School District 25 Board of Trustees on March 15 adopted midyear budget adjustments for the 2024–25 fiscal year following a public hearing in which no members of the public spoke.

Jonathan (business operations) presented the adjustments, saying the general fund’s adjusted budget is about $118 million and explaining that some federal grants (including ESSER III) show temporary balances because true allocations come in the fall. He told the board the Highland High rebuild is being tracked through two fund lines — one for the revenue source and another (fund 410) for expenditures — which makes the $60 million figure appear in multiple places for accounting purposes.

The board recessed into a public hearing to solicit comment on the proposed adjustments; seeing no speakers, the hearing was closed and a motion to adopt the proposed budget adjustments passed by voice vote.

The adjustment package includes updated estimates of revenues and expenditures across the district’s more than 30 funds, contingency reserves (1 percent), an appropriate fund balance (4 percent), and planned transfers related to construction accounting. Board members asked for follow-up on the Highland accounting flow and noted the budget remains conservative to account for enrollment uncertainty and state funding shifts.

The board’s action authorizes staff to finalize the midyear appropriation changes and continue tracking federal allocations as actual awards are received. Administrators said they will report back to the board with any material changes and continue preparing next year’s budget with conservative enrollment assumptions.

The board adjourned the hearing and returned to regular business after adopting the adjustments.