Lincoln County School Board approves budget amendments, sets aside textbook reserve and raises lunch prices

The Lincoln County School Board on Tuesday approved multiple year‑end budget amendments, established a reserve account for textbooks and Chromebooks, authorized a new online lunch‑payment contract and approved a modest increase in school lunch prices.

Board members moved through a long consent calendar and then approved a set of corrections and budget revisions across several funds. Finance staff listed a series of adjustments in the 141 general purpose fund — including a $100,242 payroll correction and a $166,315 revision tied to payroll estimates — and several other line items intended to carry the district through May and June. The board also approved numerous 142 federal‑program revisions and preliminary 2026–27 federal budgets, with Title I and IDEA Part B among the largest line items the staff presented.

Staff told the board the amendments are largely year‑end cleanup and that the district attempted to surface 90–95% of anticipated adjustments so fewer changes would be needed administratively later. For recordkeeping, a board member noted the restricted education account number 37455 in connection with the newly created textbook/Chromebook reserve.

The board approved a contract switching the district’s online payment vendor so parents can process lunch payments electronically next year; staff said the change follows a previously adopted resolution and requires the board’s signature to implement.

Votes at a glance
- Agenda approved (voice): passed
- Consent agenda approved (voice): passed
- Establish textbook/Chromebook reserve (voice): passed; fund referenced 37455
- Executive committee authority to approve necessary budget amendments and school‑level accounts payable up to $63,026 (voice): passed
- Teachers deemed eligible for tenure (motion by Mr. Miller; second Mr. Fel): passed
- Contract for online payment vendor (motion): passed
- Meal price increase (5 cents) (voice): passed
- Multiple 141 and 142 budget amendments and 142 preliminary budgets for 2026–27 (voice): passed
- 143 centralized capital fund amendment, $45,000 (voice): passed
- Financial reports for funds 141, 142, 143, 146, 177 (voice): passed

Why it matters
The package of budget amendments and the creation of a textbook reserve alter how remaining fiscal‑year funds will be used and accounted for, reducing the need for administrative adjustments later in the summer. The small increase in lunch prices — a five‑cent change the district said would amount to about a 1.8% increase for K–8 paid lunches — is intended to offset rising food, insurance and staffing costs and to better align paid rates with federal paid‑lunch equity calculations.

What the board said
Staff described the price change as a modest adjustment to keep up with inflationary pressures and projected supplier and insurance cost increases. One board member thanked staff for proactively presenting amendments and for the transparency of consolidating many line items for board review.

Next steps
Routine items remaining on the agenda included a facility‑use agreement for a boys basketball camp at Lincoln County High School and planning for a summer retreat; the retreat decision was tabled to the late July meeting so members can consider locations.