Once again, the school district enrollment is even higher than it was at the end of the 2023-24 school year. Credit: Lucerne Valley USD.
Initial figures for the 2024-25 school year show the Lucerne Valley Unified School District is continuing its historic years-long rise in enrollment.
Averaging 1,127 in enrollment last school year, the first month of the new school year had an enrollment of 1,179 students. The district has come a long way in a short period of time. Four years ago, in 2021-21, there was an enrollment of 831 in August followed by 991 in 2021-22, 1,034 in 2022-23, and 1,107 in 2023-24.
Lucerne Valley’s enrollment turn around began in July of 2016 after Peter Livingston, formerly an administrator at the Adelanto Elementary School District, was hired by Lucerne Valley USD to become its superintendent. He inherited a district whose enrollment had gradually declined to below 700, but it’s been on the upswing ever since.
Assistant Superintendent Olga Fisher addresses the LVUSD school board on September 12th. Photo by Peter Day
District Submits Unaudited Actuals
Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Olga Fisher presented the district’s Unaudited Actuals for the 2023-2024 School Year during the September 12th meeting of the Lucerne Valley USD’s Board of Trustees.
Ms. Fisher credited district accountant Lori Herriman for playing a key role in preparing the document. “This process was very insightful, she said. “Lori and I put in hours and hours of work on this.”
Each California school district is required by Education Code to present an annual statement of all receipts and expenditures of the district for the preceding fiscal year and shall file the statement with the county superintendent of schools by September 15th.
The district’s Unaudited Actuals Revenue totaled $27,416,115 with funds from the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) bringing in most with $15,423,460, followed by local funds of $5,524,379, state funds of $3,815,130 and federal funds of $2,653,145.
Expenditures totaled $24,316,388 with certificated salaries at $8,181,882, benefits at $5,940,746, classified salaries at $4,144,540, services at $2,6654,424, books/supplies at $1,433,048, capital at $1,394,653 and other outgo at $590,182.
The district adopted its 2024-25 budget this summer. After presenting the Unaudited Actuals for 2023-24, Ms. Fisher and Ms. Herriman will work on the 1st Interim Financial Report for December. The Governor’s Budget Proposal, which includes financing for public schools, is expected to be released next January.
Energy Savings Projects
School Board Members discussed several projects to generate energy savings. The project proposals were made by SiteLogiq. A company representative will be at next month’s board meeting to make a full presentation.
Bus Purchase
The school board also approved the purchase of a Collins school bus from a company in Colton.
Employees, Volunteer of the Month
Teacher Sendy Ortiz, custodian Melanie Walker, and volunteer Christian Barnes were recognized by the Lucerne Valley USD at the Board or Trustees meeting on Thursday, September 12th.
LVMHS Students of the Month
Middle-schooler Lillianna Berletich and high school student Brandon Wilson were recognized as Students of the Month during the September 12th meeting of the Lucerne Valley USD’s Board of Trustees. The awards were presented by LVMHS Assistant Principal Chris Watkins.
Student Presenters
Students from the Elementary and Middle School gave presentations about each of their students. The presenters were Eagle Leadership Representative Faith Berletich and LVMS ASB student representative Mariah Levinson.