By Joseph Goral
Staff Writer
jgoral@mihomepaper.com
LAKE ORION — Lake Orion Community Schools held the first reading for the international academy’s 2025-26 proposed budget last week.
The Lambert S. Okma International Academy is a public, tuition-free, high school of choice for students of 10 Oakland County school districts collaborating in consortium with university and business partners, according to the district’s website.
Total revenue is projected to be $6,870,320 and total expenditures, including salaries, benefits, purchased services, supplies and other, and inter-district sources, is projected to be $6,860,914. This is a $9,406 difference. Last year’s revenues totaled $6,919,553 and the expenditures totaled $6,954,630.
The proposed budget’s fund balance for the beginning of the year is listed as $180,703 and as $190,109 for the end of the year. Last year’s fund balance for the beginning and end of the year were $215,780 and $180,703.
“Lake Orion has 40 seats of the 577 projected,” Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance Andrea Curtis said. “We pay tuition costs for those seats at a recommended 110% of the foundation allowance. Currently they are also using the foundation allowance of the governor of increasing 392%. They also have a lot of assumptions. A number of the districts are also in negotiations that are under that. So that will be finalized later in the fall.
Participating districts have until June 30 to approve, disapprove or abstain regarding the budget. If the districts votes no, they would not be able to participate in international academy.