OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Forestville Board of Education President Andrea Spengler smiles at a recent Board of Education meeting.

FORESTVILLE — The Forestville Central School District received a clean, unmodified opinion of its finances in its audit report for the 2024-2025 school year.

Chris Zera, of R.A. Mercer, presented the report at a recent Board of Education meeting, noting that nothing in the report was considered as a cause for concern to the auditors.

Zera reported the district saw an increase of roughly $600,000 in revenue from the prior year, while property tax revenue remained “essentially the same.” State aid increased by roughly $1 million, while federal aid decreased by approximately $533,000.

In recent years, the district has decreased its unassigned fund balance substantially by declaring funds for use in the capital project that was approved a year ago, as well as allocating fund balance to offset costs with back-to-back years of no tax increase. Last year, taxes did increase by 2.3% as its unassigned fund balance was more in line with the recommended amount by the state. The state limit for unassigned funds is 4% of the upcoming year’s expenditures. In previous years, Forestville’s unassigned fund balance was around 20%, but it is now just slightly above 4%.

Zera stated that instructional costs, including salaries of teachers, remain as the district’s highest expense at roughly $9.4 million. Moving forward, the district will focus on utilizing its capital reserve accounts to fund the ongoing project as needed.

In terms of district personnel, two new Floater Monitor Aides were recently appointed: Adrienne Grubb, effective Sept. 24; and Jennifer Tampio-France, effective Sept. 12. Bruce Stewart was appointed as a Food Service Helper, effective Oct. 6, while Jane Scott resigned as a Food Service Helper, effective Oct. 1. The district also approved three substitutes: Russell Civiletto, Floater Monitor Aide; Sarah Maguda, Uncertified Teacher; and Lili Botticelli, Food Service Helper.

Six in-district bus runs and seven out-of-district bus runs were established for the 2025-2026 school year. Work hours for the transportation department were also approved, along with the custodial staff, support staff, and food service personnel. A contract with Johnson Controls Fire Protection for the 2025-2026 school year was also approved.

The next meeting of the Forestville Board of Education is Thursday, Nov. 13 at 5:30 p.m. in the Middle/High School Library.