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Westerville City Schools board approves year-end finances, appropriations and policies; accepts donations
Summary
At its June 29 meeting the Westerville City Schools Board approved year-end financial reports and appropriations, moved $100,446.27 in negative food-service lunch debt to the general fund, adopted several policies including an artificial intelligence policy, and accepted $29,650.98 in donations.
The Westerville City Schools Board of Education on June 29 approved a package of routine year-end financial and governance items, including final appropriations for fiscal year 2026, temporary appropriations for fiscal year 2027, and a series of policy updates.
Treasurer Laura Hendricks presented the May 2026 financial report, saying general-fund year-to-date receipts were $210.2 million against year-to-date expenses of $208 million, leaving an unencumbered general-fund balance of $114.9 million. For all funds, year-to-date receipts were $280.1 million and year-to-date expenses $286.6 million. Hendricks also said the district received an approximately $10 million Franklin County tax settlement after a delay related to residents' extensions and a software transition.
The board approved the final appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and temporary appropriations needed to begin the 2026–27 fiscal year on July 1. Hendricks said permanent appropriations will be presented before Sept. 30 as required by law.
The board approved a transfer to move negative lunch balances out of the food-service fund and into the general fund "so this debt will be moved to the general fund and the general fund will hold that debt," Hendricks said. The amount transferred this year was $100,446.27; Hendricks said those balances will appear in PowerSchool so families can arrange payment and that community donations helped cover many outstanding senior balances.
Trustees also approved procurement items that required board sign-off because invoices preceded purchase orders and authorized repayment advances from the general fund to grant funds that operate on reimbursement timing until state revenues arrive in July.
On governance items, the board approved multiple policy updates including policy 2431.06 (name, image and likeness in athletics), policy 5410 (promotion, academic acceleration, placement and retention) and policy 7540.0909 (artificial intelligence). The board also approved policy 8305 (information security).
The board accepted donations totaling $29,650.98 for the current request, bringing the year-to-date total to $290,225.38. Treasurer Hendricks highlighted $16,641.80 donated by the Westerville Progressive Alliance to help cover senior balances.
All routine motions were moved and seconded and passed by affirmative roll-call votes as recorded at the meeting. The board closed the public portion of the meeting after motions to enter executive session were approved.
