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Snake River School Board accepts clean audit and discusses $1,800 staff payment
Summary
At its Oct. 30 meeting in Blackfoot, the Snake River School Board accepted a clean FY2023–24 audit from Quest CPAs, reviewed fund balances that left the general fund with about a 6–7 month reserve, approved first reading of a grants policy change, and discussed a proposed one-time $1,800 payment to full-time staff to be decided in November.
The Snake River School Board of Trustees accepted a clean financial audit for the 2023–24 fiscal year and discussed a proposed one-time $1,800 payment to full-time staff at its Oct. 30 meeting at the Snake River District office in Blackfoot.
Kurt Folke of Quest CPAs, P.C., joined the meeting by phone and presented the audit’s three reports. He said the financial statement report indicates the district’s numbers “can be relied upon to make decisions.” The internal controls and compliance report contained no findings this year (a prior procurement-related finding from the previous year has been resolved), and the federal compliance report over federal awards, including Title I and Child Nutrition Program grants, showed no findings.
Folke summarized fund-level performance: the general fund had a net increase of $5,308,502 for the year, leaving an ending balance of $11,739,924 (about a six- to seven-month operating reserve at current expenditure rates). The audit showed a Child Nutrition fund decrease of $94,687 (fund balance $151,223), a Bond R&I fund balance of $2,245,921, a Plant Facilities fund decrease that reduced that reserve to $0, and a Lottery Fund decrease of $222,119 (fund balance $438,906). Other governmental funds (including Technology, Title I and Special Education) totaled $2,017,649; the total government fund balance was reported at $16,593,623.
Following the presentation, Lon Harrington moved and Toni Ibarra seconded a motion to approve the district’s Financial Audit Report for 2023–2024 "as presented." The board voted unanimously, 5–0, to approve the audit.
Superintendent Mark Kress reviewed proposed language changes to Policy 4520, Soliciting and Accepting Grants or Donations, saying he worked with the Idaho School Boards Association on the revisions. He said the suggested language would allow the district to pay up to 10 percent of a grant award for administration. Larin Mortimer moved and Lon Harrington seconded to approve the first reading of Policy 4520; the board voted 5–0 to approve the first reading.
Kress also explained a recent reversion in state funding from an enrollment-based to an attendance-based formula, referencing reporting of a statewide $145 million attendance funding gap and a one-time FY2024 supplemental distribution of $1,100,000 to the district. To honor the terms of Article XIII of the 2023–2024 Negotiated Agreement, he proposed a one-time $1,800 payment to every full-time position to be included in the December paycheck. The superintendent said the board will decide the proposal at its November meeting; no final board action on the payment was taken at the Oct. 30 meeting.
Kress briefly noted the district is considering purchase of a 15-passenger van and said that item will appear on the next board meeting agenda.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Josh Sorensen at 7:00 p.m.; there were no comments during the Patron Forum. Lon Harrington moved to adjourn at 7:35 p.m., Toni Ibarra seconded, and the motion passed. Clerk Terisa Coombs attested the minutes and Chairman Josh Sorensen signed them.
