OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms Forestville's Kaitie LoManto sets a pass during the Spike Out Cancer game against Westfield on Oct. 2.

FORESTVILLE — At a recent Board of Education meeting, board member Lindsey Ellis exclaimed, “Good job, business office!”

The reason for the comment was that the Forestville Central School District received a clean opinion in its annual audit report. Chris Zera of R.A. Mercer presented the findings at the recent meeting in the district’s Middle/High School Auditorium.

The district received approximately $150,000 in additional federal aid, however the increased were offset by a few notable decreases. District property tax revenue decreased by $59,000; state aid decreased by $51,000; and other sources of revenue decreased by $30,000. In all, the district’s total revenue increased by roughly $11,000.

The district’s largest expense category is instruction, at just under $9 million. The general fund balance increased by $432,000 over the year. The total revenue from the general fund decreased by $62,000 from the prior year, while total expenditures increased by roughly $1 million from the prior year, largely due to instruction costs and employee benefits.

The district also approved a permanent employment contract for Kerrieann Pelletter, School Business Executive, through June 30, 2028.

Also appointed by the district was 12-month, part-time cleaner Adam Seeley; permanent bus driver Matt Ellis; substitute floater monitor aide Linda Hebner; and three substitute teachers: Alyiah Bremer, Haley Foster, and Zachary Waterman.

For the upcoming year, Technology Supervisor Wesley Wright stated the district is targeting various technology upgrades, including new laptops and additional equipment to use with smart boards. The district is also targeting a network upgrade through BOCES, as well as a wireless access point replacement.

The district also announced the annual musical for the upcoming school year will be a rendition of “Footloose,” set for March 21-23.

Ellis also noted the district is discussing the addition of a Unified sports program to the district.

Unified sports includes students with disabilities in competitive athletics such as basketball and bowling through resources of the Special Olympics. Nearby schools such as Dunkirk, Fredonia and Silver Creek each foster a Unified sports program.

Agreements were also approved for shared athletics programs with Silver Creek as the host for modified and varsity track and field; modified, junior varsity, and varsity baseball; and with Fredonia as the host school for girls varsity wrestling.

Also of note, the district raised $2,400 from its annual Spike Out Cancer varsity volleyball game on Oct. 2 to donate to a local families battling a cancer diagnosis.

“It’s just a way for them to share in their community and help others,” Forestville head coach Sarah LoManto told the OBSERVER after the contest, a three-set victory by the visiting Westfield Wolverines. “Last year we were able to help four families with the proceeds that we made. The girls helped set everything up, they decorate, we have faculty and staff come out and support us. It’s a nice way to get more people to watch the athletic events that are going on in the school.”