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Superintendent warns of enrollment drop and multi‑million health insurance shortfalls
Summary
Superintendent Doctor Rivera told trustees the district faces at least five budget pressures — including a loss of 300+ students, vulnerable federal positions, and health insurance deficits — and urged immediate review of finances ahead of a February audit.
Superintendent Doctor Rivera told the board the coming budget cycle faces several pressures that could force staffing reductions if not addressed. He said enrollment has dropped by more than 300 students and described health insurance shortfalls that required using fund balance this year and could worsen in 2025–26.
Doctor Rivera listed five factors driving concern: the enrollment decline, up to 34 federal positions that may lose funding, a $1,200,000 health insurance deficit for 2024–25, a projected $4,000,000 shortfall for 2025–26, and rising substitute costs. "These are factors that were impacting the budget," he said, explaining why he recommended the retention stipend be included in the compensation plan but prefaced his recommendation with caution. (Doctor Rivera, SEG 035–063)
Trustee Mark Delos Santos challenged the district's prior budget presentations and said whistleblower submissions had shown earlier figures to be inaccurate, increasing urgency for a forensic audit. Trustees agreed to request updated figures from staff and to consider the auditor's final report when available.
