Schools' budget in recovery

David Cram pulled down his share of rebounds as a La Conner High basketball player in the 1980s.

But perhaps his most impressive rebound has come in the financial arena over the past 15 months.

Cram, now the La Conner Schools financial chief and interim superintendent, has overseen a fiscal bounce back resulting in notification from Olympia this week that the district is released from state financial oversight.

During the fiscal year Sept. 1, 2023-Aug. 31, 2024, the school system grew its reserve fund balance from a paltry $25,000 to a robust $1.07 million, just shy of its board's goal of main...