Guilford board approves $1.78 million in budget transfers to close FY2023'24

At its Aug. 12 meeting the Guilford Board of Education approved a set of budget transfers totaling $1,778,112 to cover over-expenditures from the 2023'24 fiscal year.

The board approved money transfers to multiple budget lines, including $555,000 to special services, $445,500 to safety, sanitation and building upkeep, $244,000 to electricity, $355,000 for regular transportation and $370,000 for special education transportation. Smaller adjustments included $134,500 for site improvements and $2,400 for textbooks; the board's packet and the presenter calculated the total as $1,778,112.

Miss Baldwin, who presented the financial reports, told the board that FY2023'24 expenditures and encumbrances closed at about 99.85% of the adopted budget and that staff tracked down late vendor bills to close the year. She also reviewed July 2024 transactions and noted the large July warrant total reflects upfront payments (purchases such as laptops, pension and capital-lease payments) that occur before the school year begins.

The board also ratified the July and end-of-year financial reports for FY2023'24 and accepted the July 2024 financial report for FY2024'25. The motions to approve the financial reports and the transfers passed by voice vote.

In related personnel business the board ratified nine teacher appointments and accepted two resignations; the superintendent reported roughly 25 certified hires over the summer and said the district remains down to two vacancies, both special education roles. Dr. Freeman noted special education is a statewide shortage area and said the district continues active recruiting and in-house professional learning.