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Chawanakee Unified board approves First Interim budget, adopts stabilization plan amid qualified status
Summary
The board approved the First Interim budget snapshot and a Stabilization Plan as the district remains in a "qualified" fiscal status; trustees directed staff to engage directors and labor negotiators in implementing expense-reduction and reserve strategies.
Chawanakee Unified School District Chief Business Official Melissa Kielpinski presented the First Interim Budget for July 1–Oct. 31, 2025 and said the district will submit a "Positive" self-certification that it can meet its obligations for the current and two subsequent years. Kielpinski reminded trustees the district is currently in "qualified" status from the prior Second Interim and that the Financial Crisis Management and Assistance Team reviewed the district's fiscal risk.
"The First Interim Budget is a snapshot of the District's budget through the first quarter," Kielpinski said. The report and updated Stabilization Plan were presented to the board to show steps for short-, mid- and long-term fiscal health.
Superintendent Jamie Nino said the Stabilization Plan is intended "to develop short-term, mid-term and long-term goals to accomplish fiscal health and stability for the district without compromising the integrity of the programs for our students." Trustees discussed the need to increase reserves and consider expense reductions; Trustee Jessie Hutchens voted against the Stabilization Plan, while the other trustees approved it.
The board voted to approve the First Interim report and the Stabilization Plan. Several next steps were specified during the discussion: involve department directors and labor negotiators once the plan is approved and continue monitoring through future interim reports. The board did not approve any specific layoffs or program eliminations at this meeting; the Stabilization Plan was described as a framework for identifying measures to restore sustainable reserves.
