District explains millage carryforward, says some prior ESSER-funded supports ended

District staff walked the group through how carryforward and millage items appear on budget reports and why amounts may look large at year end: many carryforward lines are reserved for the specific purpose listed beside them and staff said they have been evaluating whether reserved items remain needed or whether funds can be repurposed consistent with statutory rules.

Officials gave an example where unfilled positions (such as athletic trainers) were instead covered by contracting with an outside vendor so the work continued even if a posted position was not filled. Staff said the district is maximizing transfers permitted under statutory guidelines and evaluating line items more frequently than in prior years.

Participants also discussed that many school-level supports (MTSS, staffing specialists and other positions) had been funded by ESSER grants; those positions have largely ended with ESSER, forcing schools to absorb work previously done by ESSER-funded staff and prompting questions about how to prioritize limited general-fund dollars.

Next steps: district staff said they will continue evaluating carryforward lines and report findings in future budget discussions; the group flagged additional transparency and communication to stakeholders as a priority.