Audit: district spent about $660,000 of savings in 2024-25

What happened

The auditor told the board on January 22, 2026 that the general fund ended 2024-25 with $1.185 million after using about $660,000 of savings. That was more than the roughly $415,000 deficit the board planned. State aid came in about $505,000 below budget because attendance fell. The audit opinion was clean, but the auditor's letter asked for closer monitoring of state revenue.

Why it matters to families

Small changes in attendance swing Avery's state funding. To balance the budget the district cut staff from 67 to 58.5 positions and teachers from 34 to 26.5. The district still had about 125 days of cash on hand, above the 90 the state recommends.

The evidence

January 22, 2026 recording, auditor: "We ended the year with a fund balance of 1.185 ... we dipped into fund balance six hundred and sixty thousand" and "state funding revenues for the year were approximately $530,000 less than amounts budgeted." Superintendent: "Last year, staffing sixty-seven. This year, staffing fifty-eight point five ... Teachers, we went from 34 to 26.5."

The source