Speaker 2 opened the Dec. 10 Recovery Plan Advisory Committee meeting and turned the floor to a financial presenter for an update on district finances.

Speaker 1 presented October financials, saying the district “were at a negative $13,000,000” because state funds had been held by the legislature. Speaker 1 said the district covered operations using bank balances and avoided a revenue anticipation loan, adding that by November the district had “a positive fund balance for this year so far at, almost 22,000,000” after receiving roughly “$35,000,000 in revenue, mostly from the state.”

The presentation explained that part of the November inflow included prior-year receivables — Speaker 2 identified transportation, PCERS and Social Security payments that were owed and Speaker 1 estimated the prior-year portion at about $8,000,000. Speaker 1 said charter schools had been asked to hold off on payments while the budget was unsettled but were informed after the state budget was approved that payments would be dispersed “immediately,” and most charter payments were processed the prior week.

Speaker 2 walked the committee through a short PowerPoint on the newly adopted state budget, crediting the governor’s proposal with directing “over 900,000,000 that went into education this year” and noting modest percentage increases (about 1.4% for basic education, 2.33% for special education) and a per‑child rate increase intended for staff pay and classroom costs. Speaker 2 also described a “fair funding formula” and said the governor had pledged to honor a court case that aims to increase adequacy funding.

Committee members discussed where the governor placed new money. Speaker 2 said the state added foundational funds into the program called Ready to Learn rather than increasing the district’s base, and staff have received a parameters list describing about 15 allowable uses for that money (options include debt paydown, avoiding a tax increase, increasing homestead/farmstead relief, or investing in classrooms and specific services). Speaker 2 warned that Ready to Learn funds have strings attached and “is something that they could pull at any time.”

On reserves and totals, Speaker 2 summarized local tax revenues (roughly $43,000,000), federal program funds (about $8.9 million) and unreserved/scheduled reserves in the $51,000,000 range; the presenter cited a total budget figure near $259,000,008.57 for the year. The committee also discussed instructional pilots (K–8 reading and math) the district plans to expand and current staffing pressures: enrollment grew about 4% and several classes have climbed into the low‑ to mid‑30s, with middle‑level ELA and math teachers especially difficult to recruit.

No formal votes or motions were recorded during the meeting. The committee closed after confirming the finance presentation; Speaker 2 thanked members, noted the presenter would not attend next week and adjourned the meeting.

Next steps: staff will finalize the detailed November financial report and review the Ready to Learn spending parameters to recommend which allowable uses the district will pursue; the committee will reconvene to review those recommendations.