Superintendent outlines district finances; residents press board on reserves and audit

Superintendent Dr. Ryan Pacatte gave a presentation on district financial management and opened a public Q&A, in which multiple residents asked about reserves, the recent state audit and how the district compares with others financially.

During public comment, Erik Schneider asked "how Avon’s reserve funds compare to other districts," and Dr. Pacatte replied that "Avon’s reserves are on the high end, and other districts also have large reserve funds." Several residents asked whether the state audit was related to a separate Avon PD/SRO investigation; Dr. Pacatte said state audits run on a regular 5–7 year cycle and he does not believe this audit was triggered by that investigation.

Community members raised other finance-related concerns: Jim Harrington said there is "a trust issue with the school and community" and asked why the district was not held accountable for SRO investigation findings; Mike Garrett asked whether the audit report contained inaccuracies, and Dr. Pacatte pointed to the District’s official response and said the District clarified an issue about unidentified funds during the auditors' exit meeting that was not incorporated into the final report.

Board members and staff also described transparency steps: Kristen Murphy noted the availability of financial statements on the district website (Business Office section) after Kyle Montague asked whether reserves are disclosed publicly, and Jim Colt said the district’s financial-advisor-driven approach has prioritized prudence in reserve management. The Board will continue to refine its public materials and the corrective action plan responsive to the audit.