Dearest reader,
I opened another Oxford ledger.
And this one left me with a question.
I reviewed two full fiscal years of Oxford Community Schools' accounts-payable records and totaled the payments identified as "COMMUNITY VENDOR."
2024–25: $7,126,782.28
2025–26: $7,839,474.22
Two years: $14,966,256.50
That is nearly $15 million in two years.
So, naturally, I wanted to understand what I was looking at.
Oxford Virtual Academy operates programs involving shared-time students and community vendors. Oxford's own financial statements explain that state foundation revenue is driven by pupil FTE.
And this part caught my attention.
In Oxford's June 30, 2025 audited financial statements, the district wrote that its FY2026 budget assumed:
"growth in both our shared time and virtual learning programs and a small decrease in our seated student FTE."
Oxford's foundation allowance for 2025–26 was $10,050 per pupil.
So now I have one side of the ledger.
In 2025–26, I can trace approximately $7.84 million going OUT in payments identified as community vendors.
What I cannot find in Oxford's publicly available financial reports is the other side:
How much state school-aid revenue was generated by the students/FTE associated with these programs?
And after community-vendor payments and the other costs of operating the programs — teachers, mentors, software, administration and everything else — how much remained with Oxford Community Schools?
Maybe that information exists somewhere I haven't found.
Maybe someone who works with shared-time programs, Oxford Virtual Academy, pupil accounting, or school finance can explain where it appears in the public records.
I'm not alleging anything improper.
I'm trying to understand the ledger.
Because when nearly $15 million passes through one expenditure category in two years, I think it's reasonable to understand both sides of it.
Money in.
Money out.
And what remains.
So, Oxford...
What does the complete ledger look like?
As always, if you have the receipt, my inbox is open.
With receipts and respect,
Lady Budgetdown
#OxfordCommunitySchools #OxfordVirtualAcademy #SchoolFinance #MichiganSchools #PublicEducation #Transparency #FollowTheMoney #WithReceiptsAndRespect