A one-school district that depends on students from outside its boundaries
East Nicolaus Joint Union High School District runs one comprehensive high school in Nicolaus, in rural Sutter County. Like most California districts it is paid mainly through the state's Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), which pays per student based on attendance. Because only about a third of students live inside the district, enrollment from neighboring districts through the District of Choice and inter-district transfer programs drives most of its money. A five-member elected Board of Trustees sets the budget, and Neil Stinson serves as both superintendent and principal.
State formula money
LCFF is about $4.3 million of a $5.8 million 2026-27 budget. A trustee noted each student brings roughly $14,000.
Out-of-district students
Staff reported 186 District of Choice and 33 inter-district transfer students for 2026-27, about 70% of the school; the board is drafting grade-level caps and a lottery.
Tight budget
The December 2025 first interim projected deficit spending for three years; the August 2026 revision now shows a $13,777 surplus and $1.68 million in reserves.
Small board
Tom Engler (president), Jill Bramhill (clerk), David Fales and Jeff Moore; a fifth trustee resigned in August 2026. Two seats are on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
Most board votes were unanimous, and the school reported gains in English and science scores. The deficit warnings have eased with new state money, but the district still relies on grants and on families choosing to send students from other districts.
Spending per student (2026-27 spending / about 324 expected students)context
17,825 USD
Context: $5,775,267 projected spending divided by the 324 students staff expected in May 2026; enrollment was 327 in August.
Major projects
New gym bleachers
in_progress
Replacing old bleachers with ADA-accessible ones. A $100,000 AgWest grant plus about $5,000-$6,000 raised by the community will not cover the full cost; a purchase-and-install bid was on the October 12 agenda.
Next: Removal and installation hoped for spring 2027
Grant application reported
$100,000 grant announced
Bid up for approval
Funding
AgWest Farm Credit stewardship grant plus local fundraising
District of Choice enrollment cap and lottery
proposed
The board is drafting a resolution to cap each grade at about 90 (up to 95) students and to run a lottery for out-of-district seats before the February notice deadline.
Next: Lottery, if needed, before February 15
Cap discussion tabled
Draft resolution reviewed
Resolution 2627-IV on agenda
Funding
No direct cost; affects state funding through enrollment
New school bus
approved
The board approved buying a new bus (no air conditioning) using a $165,000 APCO clean-air grant and five-year financing under 7% interest.
Next: Delivery date not stated
Grant and purchase approved
Financing resolution adopted
Funding
APCO grant plus financing (remaining cost not stated)
Local elections & school board members
Elections & votes
Board electionScheduled
November 3, 2026 East Nicolaus JUHSD Board of Trustees election (2 seats)
East Nicolaus Joint Union High School District (Sutter and Placer counties)
California's consolidated general election on November 3, 2026 includes the district's governing board election. The board adopted election resolutions for Placer County (2526-XI) and Sutter County (2526-XII) on May 11, 2026. Two seats are up; trustee Erin VanDyke resigned in August 2026. Which incumbent seats expire was not confirmed from an official record. A Sutter County filing list (seen only via search snippets; the county site returned 403) named Mikaela Hudson and Carrie Peterson as filed, non-incumbent candidates; not verified from an official page we could retrieve.
Built from East Nicolaus Joint Union High School District Board of Trustees agendas and minutes (November 2025 to October 2026), the 2026-27 budget revision, LCAPs, unaudited actuals and the student handbook posted on eastnicolaus.k12.ca.us. Most minutes are scanned and were read with OCR.
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