Cleveland County Schools board approves year‑end budget amendment to record late state funds

The Cleveland County Schools board voted 7‑0 on July 7, 2026, to approve a budget amendment to record additional state funds that arrived near the fiscal year end and to make other year‑end adjustments, district staff said.

Board staffer Mr. McDaniel told trustees that a resolution passed earlier in the spring had authorized finance officers and the superintendent to make the adjustments necessary to keep the district in compliance with auditors. "We did receive some additional money from the state, with about 3 days to go, but we did manage to get that budgeted in this amendment as well," Mr. McDaniel said.

The amendment applies to the prior fiscal year nd not to the upcoming budget, the Chair and others clarified during discussion. Trustees questioned whether the amendment would draw on the district's reserve; Mr. Blanton expressed concern about using the rainy‑day fund and urged caution. Mr. McDaniel said the district's total budget is about $225,000,000 and that the $5,000,000 reserve represents roughly 2.5% of the total, a buffer included to cover worst‑case scenarios if state or federal funding were reduced.

After discussion, a motion was made to approve the amendment as presented by Mr. McDaniel; the board recorded a 7‑0 vote in favor. The vote was taken by voice and recorded in the meeting transcript as unanimous.

The board then moved on to a motion to enter closed session to discuss confidential personnel matters.