CCSD Projects Financial 'Turnaround'

RISON - Superintendent Jerrod Williams informed the Cleveland County School Board in his final regular monthly meeting Monday night that the district is projected to carry over a net gain of about $300,000 in the general fund balance as the current fiscal year comes to an end June 30.Williams used his final monthly meeting to deliver what was essentially a state of the school district address to the seven-member board. His oneyear contract with the district concludes at the end of this month. Incoming superintendent Davy King officially takes over July 1.Prior to arriving for his single year with the Cleveland County School District, Williams, who has a degree in finance, served as superintendent at two larger school districts, Sheridan and Bauxite. School board president Harrell Wilson said last year when Williams was given a one-year contract that the board wanted someone to put the district on solid financial footing, espe-cially in light of the unknown impact the new LEARNS education plan may have on school districts.In an interview after the meeting, Williams said Cleveland County had about $800,000 in the general fund at the end of the 2022-23 school. Based on the current projections, Williams said the district should complete this current fiscal year with a balance of about $1.1 million, which is a net gain of about $300,000 over the school year.In addition, he said if the school district's current budget for the 2024-25 school year goes according to plan, the district could add on another $250,000 to give it a carry over balance of more than $500,000 going into the 2025-26 school year."For a school our size, that is a remarkable turnaround," he told the board.Williams told the Herald that the district was able to achieve the net gain through a variety of cost-cutting measures throughout all the district's operations.Early in his tenure, Williams put a greater focus on reducing energy costs in each of the di...