North Pike board accepts 2024-25 audit, approves budget moves to cover emergency repairs

The North Pike School District Board voted to accept the district's 2024''2025 financial audit, which staff said contained no findings, and approved budget amendments to reclassify existing funds toward emergency repairs while the district awaits insurance settlements.

Superintendent Dr. Smith introduced the audit and praised the work of district staff; Miss Griffin, who addressed the board during the meeting, said her team "help tremendously" and described the audit as a lengthy process that results in relatively few clean reports in the state. The board moved and carried approval of the audit report.

Board members then considered proposed budget amendments intended to allow the district to issue purchase orders for emergency maintenance and repairs. Tina explained that the revisions move dollars by function (from categories such as land purchase and instructional units into maintenance/2000-series functions) so the district can pay vendors now without dipping into fund balance. Tina said the shifts are estimates made while the district awaits a final insurance settlement and that some costs should be offset by insurance proceeds.

The board approved the amendments after staff clarified that the district had not yet received an insurance settlement and that the roughly $88,000 originally set aside for land purchase had been identified as a source to help cover repairs but will be revisited in next year's budget. The superintendent reiterated that these are internal reallocations of existing dollars and not draws on the district's fund balance.

In a separate motion, the board approved the formal 2025''2026 amended budget paperwork that reflects the intra-year moves. Dr. Smith reminded the board of upcoming budget deadlines and other operational dates, including a June 25 budget hearing and July 2 vote on the final budget.

The board also received a construction update: substantial completion for the stadium was extended to June 3, and members discussed addressing an outstanding parking-lot need tied to earlier reallocation decisions. Board members raised a separate estimate that additional bleachers to accommodate roughly 150''170 students could cost about $150,000; staff said booster groups had been asked to consider contributions and that temporary seating plans would allow the stadium to open for football season while funding options are pursued.

The meeting concluded with signatures on approved documents and an adjournment.

Next steps: staff will continue to process emergency purchase orders under the amended budget and will return to the board with insurance recovery updates and any recommended changes to next year's budget concerning the parking-lot funds.