Silver Creek receives clean audit report
Trending
SILVER CREEK -- The Silver Creek Central School District received a clean, unmodified opinion of its finances in an Independent Audit Report through the end of last school year. The district discussed the results of the report at a recent Board of Education meeting.
The report was conducted by certified public accountants Buffamante, Whipple, Buttafaro, for the period ending June 30. Matt Miller, Business Office Manager, was commended for his work by the Board and Superintendent Dr. Katie Ralston, who said the positive report is "truly an accomplishment".
The district was, however, cited for having far too much money deemed as unassigned fund balance. As a result, a corrective action plan was required to address the district's unassigned funds of $6,537,152, which equates to approximately 19.6% of the 2026-27 school budget. The state legal limit is 4%, but districts across the state often exceed that figure. Silver Creek's unassigned fund balance in the previous year's report was roughly 15%.
Ralston clarified the excess fund balance is not unused tax revenue or "extra money" the district has at its disposal. Rather, it is what she called a "complicated calculation" of budget transfers regarding money allocated to the district's 2024 Capital Project. While the project was approved in 2024, the invoices for the work come in as the work is done, meaning the funds must be available to pay the bills throughout the project.
Ralston said the amount of unassigned fund balance "is not because it can be used for anything that we want it to be. It is not because we are squirreling away money. It is because it's a very designated and intentional use for our Capital Improvement Project and our vehicle purchases."
The $36.1 million Capital Project is the largest Capital Project in the school's history. The project was fully funded through capital reserves and state aid reimbursement, resulting in no tax increase to residents. Approximately $5.8 million of reserve funds were moved between accounts to cover Capital Project costs. A capital reserve fund was dissolved, resulting in additional revenue to the district.
The report also found no compliance issues or any general control issues in its single audit of the district's Impact Aid funds. A single audit was required due to the amount of federal funds received by the district this past year.
Also at the recent meeting, Desiree Clarke was appointed as Internal Claims Auditor for the remainder of the 2026-27 school year. Kelly Imhoff was provisionally appointed as a 12-month Clerk II at a rate of $16.25 per hour. Brookelynn Wood resigned as a 10-Month Cleaner.
An agreement with Sweethearts & Heroes was approved in the amount of $35,795 from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 for social and emotional learning programming. The Board also adopted the District's Professional Development Plan for the 2026-27 school year.
The Board also approved KnightU instructors at an instructional rate of $47 per hour and a professional development rate of $36 per hour. Several extracurricular advisors were also appointed.
Michael Hoerbelt was appointed to a probationary position as a 10-Month Bus Driver at a rate of $23 per hour. Peter Gokey was acknowledged as a Bus Driver in Training to become a substitute bus driver, effective Sept. 21. Tim Ippolito will be granted permanent status as a 10-Month Bus Driver on Nov. 6. Trisha Sills and Lisa Anderson resigned as Elementary Outside Bus Supervisors.
Multiple substitutes were appointed at the recent meeting, including Ariel Prowse, Payton Brennan, Shawn Hadley, Karen Pennington, Jessica Tarnowski, and Chris VanCheri, a permanent daily substitute. Outside elementary supervision amendments were also approved.
Bailey Anderson will complete an uncompensated School Counseling Internship from Liberty University through Dec. 18 for a total of 100 hours under the supervision of School Social Worker Emilie Tothero. Anne Tahamont will serve as a Teacher Mentor.
Silver Creek will share a lacrosse program with Gowanda for the 2026-27 school year. Derek Bauer was appointed as a Lifeguard and Khloe Karnes was appointed as a Fitness Guard. Ben Forenzo is a Unified Bocce Coach; Melanie Schott is a Junior Varsity Girls Basketball Coach; and Janine Shumaker is a Bowling Coach. Jacob Sternisha, Matthew Lotter, and Donald Swartwood will serve as volunteer coaches. Amy Heller resigned as Unified Bocce Coach.
School field trips to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and other historical landmarks in Washington, D.C., on March 7-9, 2027, and to the Cleveland Metro Zoo and the Great Lakes Science Center, in Cleveland, on May 28, 2027 were also approved.
The next Silver Creek Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 12 at the Seneca Nation of Indians Early Childhood Learning Center.