District reports steady enrollment, budget outlook and YouthTruth findings; trustees flag low family participation

Cloverdale Unified business services presented enrollment, attendance and budget updates and summarized YouthTruth survey results to the board.

Enrollment and attendance: Staff reported current enrollment at 1,235 students (October count 1,248) and noted a modest decline from prior years. P2 attendance figures, which feed the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) calculations, were reviewed; business services emphasized the importance of P2 and annual attendance metrics for audit and funding purposes.

Revenues and expenditures: The presenter said the district has received an estimated 93% of projected LCFF funds and noted other state revenues (mandated cost block grant, home-to-school transportation and lottery funds) lag behind receipt schedules. Expenditures were described as “running pretty tight” with salaries and benefits encumbrances included; staff reassured trustees that payroll obligations were covered.

YouthTruth survey: Staff presented composite YouthTruth reports showing high student participation across grade levels but notably low family/parent response rates. Trustees discussed barriers to parent participation (survey timing, the need to fill out the survey for each child, language and vocabulary issues for some students) and suggested outreach options such as setting up Chromebook stations at open house events or simplified paper forms. One trustee suggested using survey results in LCAP and grant applications; others recommended additional methods to increase family engagement.

Trustees asked for trend data and promised the LCAP presentation in June would show how YouthTruth results connect to district goals and local indicators. Staff said YouthTruth participation is free to districts and that more detailed reports and disaggregations are available.