THE ADOPTION of the 2025-26 Budgets for Sierra County Office of Education (SCOE) and Sierra Plumas Joint Unified School District (SPJUSD) were approved during the regular joint board meeting held June 24th in Loyalton. Both entities are required by law to adopt a budget each year by June 30th of the preceding year. Each budget encompasses the General Fund and is also accompanied by a cash-flow projection and a multi-year projection covering the 2025/26 budget and two subsequent years.
For the SCOE the projected general fund ending cash balance is $5,485,351 and has a positive certification. PERS rate decreased from 27.05% to 26.81% for a projected annual cost of $177,237. STRS rate did not change and remains at 19.10% for a projected annual cost of $197,153. Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 25/26 is 2.30% but will increase to 3.02 in 26/27 and 3.42% in 27/28.
For SPJUSD positive general fund cash flow for fiscal year 2025-26 with a projected ending cash balance of $3,677,682. The Board’s required reserve of 12.5% $1,158,320 is met in the current budget year as well as the next two consecutive years. Chief Business Officer Randy Jones noted the district attendance improvement out of 414 kids, 378.46 attended. The goal is to reduce absenteeism even further. Some decreases in funding are a result of one-time grants. District Superintendent Sean Snider explained one-time grants have been counted already and can’t be counted as revenue again. He assured the Board they are not taking on ongoing costs. Most of the one-time costs now are for the middle school. Board President Kelly Champion stated they would be monitoring closely. Snider added they were still trying to get Necessary Small School funding for the middle school.
A MATH, SCIENCE, COMPUTER SCIENCE COORDINATOR was discussed during the joint meeting with Sierra County Office of Education and Sierra Plumas Joint Unified School District Board on June 24th in Loyalton. County Superintendent James Berardi explained the position is a $10,000 stipend position funded by the CAL-MSCS statewide grant. Duties would include organizing a team of teachers and district leaders that informs and provides input around the needs of the school district and teachers in the areas of math, science, and computer science. Berardi hoped this would continue to help math scores improve. He was happy to report Downieville is going to have a new math teacher, adding they hadn’t had a math teacher in person for many years.
DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT SEAN SNIDER gave a report at the same meeting, on the potential of moving the Sierra Pass Continuation building to the Adult Education area instead of purchasing one. $20,000 to move it, which Snider stated is a lot less than buying a new one. Snider felt this was good news and will continue to pursue it and bring it back to the July 29th board meeting. Snider didn’t think it could be moved before school started but hoped for some time this fall.
Snider was excited to announce the new bus driver passed his test and will now have a fourth bus driver for Loyalton schools.
For the SCOE the projected general fund ending cash balance is $5,485,351 and has a positive certification. PERS rate decreased from 27.05% to 26.81% for a projected annual cost of $177,237. STRS rate did not change and remains at 19.10% for a projected annual cost of $197,153. Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 25/26 is 2.30% but will increase to 3.02 in 26/27 and 3.42% in 27/28.
For SPJUSD positive general fund cash flow for fiscal year 2025-26 with a projected ending cash balance of $3,677,682. The Board’s required reserve of 12.5% $1,158,320 is met in the current budget year as well as the next two consecutive years. Chief Business Officer Randy Jones noted the district attendance improvement out of 414 kids, 378.46 attended. The goal is to reduce absenteeism even further. Some decreases in funding are a result of one-time grants. District Superintendent Sean Snider explained one-time grants have been counted already and can’t be counted as revenue again. He assured the Board they are not taking on ongoing costs. Most of the one-time costs now are for the middle school. Board President Kelly Champion stated they would be monitoring closely. Snider added they were still trying to get Necessary Small School funding for the middle school.
A MATH, SCIENCE, COMPUTER SCIENCE COORDINATOR was discussed during the joint meeting with Sierra County Office of Education and Sierra Plumas Joint Unified School District Board on June 24th in Loyalton. County Superintendent James Berardi explained the position is a $10,000 stipend position funded by the CAL-MSCS statewide grant. Duties would include organizing a team of teachers and district leaders that informs and provides input around the needs of the school district and teachers in the areas of math, science, and computer science. Berardi hoped this would continue to help math scores improve. He was happy to report Downieville is going to have a new math teacher, adding they hadn’t had a math teacher in person for many years.
DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT SEAN SNIDER gave a report at the same meeting, on the potential of moving the Sierra Pass Continuation building to the Adult Education area instead of purchasing one. $20,000 to move it, which Snider stated is a lot less than buying a new one. Snider felt this was good news and will continue to pursue it and bring it back to the July 29th board meeting. Snider didn’t think it could be moved before school started but hoped for some time this fall.
Snider was excited to announce the new bus driver passed his test and will now have a fourth bus driver for Loyalton schools.
