Interim superintendent warns of tight finances; board elevates financial management in evaluations

Interim Superintendent Kim Kellison told board members the district is in a strained financial position and asked the board to prioritize financial management and organizational stability in the superintendent evaluation. She said the district experienced a roughly $400,000 net drop and that a recent state adjustment reduced reserves; "I'm looking for $300,000 right now," she said, and added that the district's ending fund balance is far below the target: "We should have $6,500,000 in an ending fund balance, not 1,000,000."

Board members agreed that financial management, organizational management and communication should rise to the top of this year's evaluation priorities. Several members also discussed forming a finance committee to do deeper, more frequent budget reviews and to help the board and public understand the district's fiscal position.