LAKEPORT—The Lakeport Unified School District has a significant amount of carryover funds in 2018-2019 according to a presentation at Wednesday’s school board meeting, enough to keep the district fiscally stable through 2021-22, although they will need to see increased revenues and/or decreased expenses to continue fiscal solvency beyond that year.
Chief Business Officer Jacque Eischens presented the school board and public with the 2019-2020 budget during Wednesday’s regularly scheduled meeting. The meeting was held in the newly constructed Terrace Middle School resource center.
Eischens began her presentation by stating that the LUSD 2019-2020 budget was approved by the Lake County Office of Education on September 9. Eischens stated in the documentation presented that a large portion of the money will be spent in this year. Eischens added that the carryover from 2018-19 kept the LUSD fiscally stable through 2021-22. In addition, Eischens announced that the district was able to increase the reserves from the State mandated 3% minimum to 5% due to increased revenue. Eischens said that having enough reserves for unforeseen emergencies is critical.
Eischen went on to say that the budget is based on enrollment and if enrollment goes down, the budget will change accordingly. According to Eischen’s documentation, since August 26, enrollment had decreased by 12 students. LUSD Superintendent, Jill Falconer, stated that enrollment was down about 30 students compared to this same time last year. She went on to state that she will be presenting more information regarding transfers and other reasons students left the district at the next board meeting. Board President, Dan Buffalo, asked Falconer if there was an attempt made to reach out to parents of students who had left the district with the hopes of enticing them back. Falconer responded by stating that there had been some attempts made through letters and phone calls.
In other items, Terrace Middle School principal, Scott Johnson, announced that his site has a new school-wide Character Education program called Viking Pride. Students demonstrated through stories and personal experience what the letters in P.R.I.D.E meant. P – Perseverance, R – Respect, I – Integrity, D – Discovery and E – Empathy. Board member, Jennifer Hanson, stated that the “Pride presentation was awesome” and that she would like to see more student presentations at future board meetings.
Student Representative Drake Smart stated that Clear Lake High School has a new club call the Youth Tobacco Coalition. A vape education seminar was presented during their recent Open House. He also stated that there will be a Homecoming parade in downtown Lakeport on September 27 beginning at 4 p.m.. The parade will feature the high school marching band as well as student-made parade floats. Smart asked for the board’s help in judging the floats and they agreed to assist.
Prior to joining the Record-Bee as a freelancer covering education and local news items, Mary Phillips worked in education as a teacher and an administrator for 34 years.
