Silver Falls School District 4J board appoints three to budget committee, reviews finances and defers equity committee selection

The Silver Falls School District 4J Board of Directors met Nov. 12 and unanimously appointed three members to its budget committee while receiving staff reports on the district’s finances and other administrative items.

Chair Phil Wiesner called the meeting to order and the board approved the consent agenda, then heard a student report, principal updates, and staff presentations. Director of Finance Kim Doud reported that after the district adopted the Community Eligibility Program meal counts rose from about 71,000 last year to over 106,000 this year. Doud said auditors’ work on the 2023–24 budget analysis is nearly complete and that the district’s audited ending fund balance for 2023–24 is now estimated around $1.6–1.7 million (compared with the $1 million figure used when building the 2024–25 budget); she added the estimated 2024–25 ending fund balance could reach about $1.9 million. Doud also noted a $4 million Tax Anticipation Note payment is due at the end of December.

The board also discussed forming an Educational Equity Committee under HB 732; Jennifer Hannan described the committee’s role, ODE guidance and that the district currently has 14 interested applicants. The board moved the Equity Committee agenda item to the December meeting.

In action items the board nominated and unanimously approved Dr. Creighton Helms, Kellie Strawn and Paul Thompson to fill three vacancies on the budget committee. Chair Wiesner called each vote and each motion passed unanimously.

The meeting adjourned at 9:18 p.m.