Leftover fund balance money to be used in Upper Darby S.D.

UPPER DARBY>> After finding out that the district had approximately $3.8 million in earmarked fund balance that is projected to go unused in the current school year budget, the Upper Darby Board of School Directors weighed their options on how to potentially use some of those leftover funds.

The board moved out of committee on April 24 all three administrative requests that were proposed to them ranging from educational science materials to building maintenance, all at a price tag of $1.25 million. That would leave $2.55 million of that committed fund balance being returned to the district’s purse if the requests are approved.

Need final approval by the board at their May general meeting include updating a 12-year-old middle school science program with textbooks and downloadable workbooks will cost $250,000, the purchase of 3,500 Google Chromebooks will cost $875,000 and repairs to 10 modular units in the district adds on $125,000. Each request was considered for having a certain critical bearing to it.

An urgency on the Chromebooks was made for the logistics of dedicating 1,000 man hours to ready all of the devices before the start of the school year, and modular repairs would have to be completed by June 30.

The board also had the option to not approve any of the requests or incorporate them into next year’s budget.

“Because all of this will impact any decision that’s made now will impact how we prepare the budget, how we present our financials, how our year-end ends up,” said district Chief Financial Officer Patrick Grant. “There’s a lot of balls you juggle when you do this… One way or another, we’re going to be spending fund balance on this end, or that end, to be able to accomplish these tasks.”

A vote is expected under new business at the board’s May 9 meeting.