A LOYALTON MIDDLE SCHOOL PLAN was discussed during the Sierra Plumas Joint Unified School Board meeting held April 8th in Downieville. District Superintendent Sean Snider stated he has had many conversations around the middle school and is in deliberations with the State to see if they can be funded as a necessary small school. He said everyone is really supportive of separating the middle school from the high school, so if they can’t get the funding, they have created a Plan B.
The projected enrollment for next year at the middle school is 82 students. If they are funded as a necessary small school they will receive $802,469 (if ADA is 49-72) or $1,067,976 (if ADA is 73-96). With the funding, they would hire a school administrator with primary responsibility for the middle school. The increased funds also allows for hiring a fourth teacher to reduce class sizes and split the large 8th grade class.
Plan B would be to do it with existing administration and teachers. They would still need a full-time site secretary, a couple of aides and there would be an increase in maintenance and custodial needs.
One time costs would be the same for Plan A or B and include a portable classroom for Sierra Pass at the Adult Education facility (to still be determined), parking area behind Room 9, four SMART Boards, 60 student desks and chairs.
Based on all the conversations, Snider recommended they move forward with Plan B and pursue trying to get funding, adding there would still be some increased costs with Plan B. Board member Richard Jaquez asked who would be the administrator. Snider stated it would be a combined effort of Elementary and High School principals and he will cover if needed. Board President Kelly Champion felt it important to have a dedicated principal and would like to pursue a teaching principal. Existing funding was questioned. Director of Business Services/CBO Randy Jones stated the projected revenues exceeded expenses. There was a surplus of $170,000 and that reserve established will take care of the middle school if they don’t get the funding. Snider stated he would look for a teaching principal. Champion was fully supportive of starting with Plan B and pushing for Plan A if they can get the funding. Plan B was approved.
THE PURCHASE OF BUILDINGS for a Wellness Center and District Office was discussed during the Sierra Plumas Joint Unified School District and County Office of Education (COE) Board meeting on Tuesday, April 8th.
County Superintendent James Berardi reported the District and County would share costs on the Wellness Center and would have to move quickly as tariffs are raising the cost of steel. The modular building would be put on after modular room 11 behind the elementary school. District Superintendent Sean Snider said there’s a grant from the District side and a grant on the County side. $223,033.00 is for a 24’ x 40’ building only.
A local contractor provided a quote for the ground work for $18,000, which Snider felt was significantly less than they were expecting and will get another quote.
It was stated the building is ready to roll and could be done in 6 weeks. Board President Kelly Champion said the Wellness Center has been a long time in coming and they have the money for it. The purchase was approved with the necessary upgrades.
As for a new District office building, Berardi stated the County Office has the ability to purchase it and proposed the COE purchase the building to be shared with the District. He felt it was a good solution because it opens up all the portables for middle school use. The 48’ x 40’ building for $395,369.00 was approved with necessary upgrades.
Plumas Unified School District and the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) entered into an agreement for FCMAT in January 2025, to conduct a review of the district’s fiscal solvency by creating a multiyear financial projection and a cash flow analysis. The agreement stated that FCMAT would perform the following:
1. Review the district’s 2024-25 first interim general fund budget and use it as a baseline to develop an independent multiyear financial projection (MYFP) for the current and two subsequent fiscal years, including a cash flow analysis for the same period. The MYFP will be a snapshot in time of the district’s financial status. Make recommendations for expenditure reductions and/or revenue increases to help the district eliminate its structural budget deficit, if any.
2. The Team will present the final report to the district’s board of trustees at a public meeting following the completion of the review.
The study team conducted remote fieldwork from January through March 2025. The district provided relevant payroll, budget and actual reports as well as actual cash reports for the current year.
An April 6th letter contains the study team’s findings and recommendations.
Rebuilding Fund Balance
This MYFP includes board-approved reductions as of March 12, 2025. However, these reductions are insignificant relative to the severity of the district’s financial condition. The size of the ongoing structural deficit, coupled with the fund balance shortfall (which includes both the negative ending fund balance and the statutory reserve requirement for economic uncertainties), totals approximately -$8.7 million at the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year alone. The district has not taken meaningful steps to address the deficit or to begin rebuilding its fund balance.
Given the limited action taken by the board in March 2025, the projected combined ending fund balance
for 2025-26 is expected to approach -$13 million. These figures will be a key consideration as the district and state determine the level of emergency appropriation that may be required.
Mike Fine, CEO of the Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team (FCMAT), attended the PCOE/PUSD April 9 Board Meeting and provided an overview of the district’s financial situation. His presentation took place during open session, offering important insights into the challenges they face.
The projected enrollment for next year at the middle school is 82 students. If they are funded as a necessary small school they will receive $802,469 (if ADA is 49-72) or $1,067,976 (if ADA is 73-96). With the funding, they would hire a school administrator with primary responsibility for the middle school. The increased funds also allows for hiring a fourth teacher to reduce class sizes and split the large 8th grade class.
Plan B would be to do it with existing administration and teachers. They would still need a full-time site secretary, a couple of aides and there would be an increase in maintenance and custodial needs.
One time costs would be the same for Plan A or B and include a portable classroom for Sierra Pass at the Adult Education facility (to still be determined), parking area behind Room 9, four SMART Boards, 60 student desks and chairs.
Based on all the conversations, Snider recommended they move forward with Plan B and pursue trying to get funding, adding there would still be some increased costs with Plan B. Board member Richard Jaquez asked who would be the administrator. Snider stated it would be a combined effort of Elementary and High School principals and he will cover if needed. Board President Kelly Champion felt it important to have a dedicated principal and would like to pursue a teaching principal. Existing funding was questioned. Director of Business Services/CBO Randy Jones stated the projected revenues exceeded expenses. There was a surplus of $170,000 and that reserve established will take care of the middle school if they don’t get the funding. Snider stated he would look for a teaching principal. Champion was fully supportive of starting with Plan B and pushing for Plan A if they can get the funding. Plan B was approved.
THE PURCHASE OF BUILDINGS for a Wellness Center and District Office was discussed during the Sierra Plumas Joint Unified School District and County Office of Education (COE) Board meeting on Tuesday, April 8th.
County Superintendent James Berardi reported the District and County would share costs on the Wellness Center and would have to move quickly as tariffs are raising the cost of steel. The modular building would be put on after modular room 11 behind the elementary school. District Superintendent Sean Snider said there’s a grant from the District side and a grant on the County side. $223,033.00 is for a 24’ x 40’ building only.
A local contractor provided a quote for the ground work for $18,000, which Snider felt was significantly less than they were expecting and will get another quote.
It was stated the building is ready to roll and could be done in 6 weeks. Board President Kelly Champion said the Wellness Center has been a long time in coming and they have the money for it. The purchase was approved with the necessary upgrades.
As for a new District office building, Berardi stated the County Office has the ability to purchase it and proposed the COE purchase the building to be shared with the District. He felt it was a good solution because it opens up all the portables for middle school use. The 48’ x 40’ building for $395,369.00 was approved with necessary upgrades.
Plumas Unified School District and the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) entered into an agreement for FCMAT in January 2025, to conduct a review of the district’s fiscal solvency by creating a multiyear financial projection and a cash flow analysis. The agreement stated that FCMAT would perform the following:
1. Review the district’s 2024-25 first interim general fund budget and use it as a baseline to develop an independent multiyear financial projection (MYFP) for the current and two subsequent fiscal years, including a cash flow analysis for the same period. The MYFP will be a snapshot in time of the district’s financial status. Make recommendations for expenditure reductions and/or revenue increases to help the district eliminate its structural budget deficit, if any.
2. The Team will present the final report to the district’s board of trustees at a public meeting following the completion of the review.
The study team conducted remote fieldwork from January through March 2025. The district provided relevant payroll, budget and actual reports as well as actual cash reports for the current year.
An April 6th letter contains the study team’s findings and recommendations.
Rebuilding Fund Balance
This MYFP includes board-approved reductions as of March 12, 2025. However, these reductions are insignificant relative to the severity of the district’s financial condition. The size of the ongoing structural deficit, coupled with the fund balance shortfall (which includes both the negative ending fund balance and the statutory reserve requirement for economic uncertainties), totals approximately -$8.7 million at the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year alone. The district has not taken meaningful steps to address the deficit or to begin rebuilding its fund balance.
Given the limited action taken by the board in March 2025, the projected combined ending fund balance
for 2025-26 is expected to approach -$13 million. These figures will be a key consideration as the district and state determine the level of emergency appropriation that may be required.
Mike Fine, CEO of the Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team (FCMAT), attended the PCOE/PUSD April 9 Board Meeting and provided an overview of the district’s financial situation. His presentation took place during open session, offering important insights into the challenges they face.
