The Centralia High School board approved the amended budget for the fiscal year ending in June that shows a deficit of $603,311. One reason for the deficit, according to superintendent Chuck Lane, is the federal government continuing to withhold previously extended funding, over $550,000 of ESSER III grant money. State attorneys general from sixteen states remain in a legal battle with the Trump administration over the money. Until the money is received, Centralia High School and other school districts in similar situations are forced to pay out of pocket for work already completed on projects they were told would be covered.
Lane says that thanks to having plenty of funds in reserve, the district is able to absorb the $600,000 deficit this year without creating any problems. If the district does eventually receive the money it was promised, that money will likely appear as revenue on the next fiscal year’s budget.
The extra insurance payment the district had to make to the Egyptian Trust this year was another factor in the deficit. Lane said this was the second time in four years that schools have had to pay extra to cover a shortfall for the Egyptian Trust.
In projects, both the new solar panels and pole barn addition are essentially complete. The high school’s solar panels will finish being hooked up and activated on July 11. Fitness equipment including a golf simulator has been moved into the new pole barn addition. All facilities are expected to be ready for use by the start of the school year.
In employment, the board rehired Tom Broughton as school treasurer. Eric Mann was hired as volunteer assistant robotics coach for the 2025-26 school year. Baylee Taylor was hired as volunteer assistant flag corps coach, Brayden Lockwood was hired as volunteer assistant football coach, and Alyssa Hutton was hired as assistant volleyball coach.
The board accepted letters of resignation from Jake Brothers as annex security, from John Fischer as social science teacher and boys’ head track coach, and from Sherry Hargis as assistant volleyball coach.