Aug 28, 2023 Board of Directors

ALL RIGHT.

[00:00:04]

[1. Call to Order]

SO START START WITH A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

READY BEGIN.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

NEXT UP, WE HAVE OUR ROLL CALL.

PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF DISTRICT FIVE JACKIE MADDUX HERE.

VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF DISTRICT FOUR, MARK WATRIN HERE.

DIRECTOR OF DISTRICT ONE, MARY SNITILY.

SHE HAS A PREARRANGED ABSENCE THIS EVENING.

DIRECTOR OF DISTRICT TWO ANDREW LAWHON.

DIRECTOR OF DISTRICT THREE TED CHAMPINE.

HERE. STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE SORA TOLLEY HERE.

STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE JULIA STIFFLER HERE.

MADAM PRESIDENT, WE HAVE A QUORUM.

THANK YOU. I'LL MOVE TO EXCUSE THE ABSENCE OF DIRECTOR MARY SNITILY FOR HER PREARRANGED NOTICE.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO EXCUSE DIRECTOR SNITILYS' ABSENCE.

ANY QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE, AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES 3 TO 0.

MOVING ON TO OUR AGENDA APPROVAL.

[4. Agenda Approval (Board Vote w/Student Voice)]

WE HAVE ITEMS A THROUGH I.

NO OLD BUSINESS.

TONIGHT WE WILL TAKE A BRIEF RECESS AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK TO HAVE OUR BUDGET HEARING.

I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WILL ACTUALLY BE A RECESS.

IT'S MORE OF A IT'S MORE OF A PROCEDURAL PROCESS.

SO YOU RECESS THE CURRENT MEETING, THE CURRENT MEETING.

BUT I THINK WE'LL START THE NEXT MEETING RIGHT AWAY.

THANK YOU. YEAH. OKAY.

RECESS SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GONE.

TAKING A BREAK. AFTER THE BUDGET HEARING, WE WILL RESUME THE MEETING.

WE WILL HAVE TWO ITEMS OF NEW BUSINESS AND THEN WE WILL WRAP UP WITH FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS AND BOARD EVENTS.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED OR REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA TONIGHT? MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AGENDA TONIGHT.

MOVE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE THE AGENDA TONIGHT IS PRESENTED AN ADVISORY VOTE FROM OUR STUDENT BOARD REPRESENTATIVES.

PRO.

ALL RIGHT. ALL OF THOSE THINGS IN PLACE.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED.

MOTION PASSES 3 TO 0.

NEXT UP ON THE AGENDA IS OUR COMMITTEE REPORTS.

[5. Communications]

I DO NOTICE WE HAVE OUR HANDBOOK, OUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY HANDBOOK ATTACHED, AS WELL AS SOME BYLAWS AND A DOCUMENT ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL.

SO IF EVERYBODY COULD READ THAT WHEN THEY HAVE TIME.

DO WE HAVE AN AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT TONIGHT? NO, IT'LL BE NEXT TIME.

I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T ASK IF ANYBODY ELSE HAD ANYTHING TO ADD FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COMMENTS.

OKAY. BATTLE GROUND EDUCATION FOUNDATION.

I WILL SHARE THAT STUFF.

THE BUS WAS A HUGE SUCCESS AGAIN THIS YEAR.

THANK YOU TO THE FOUNDATION AND THE COMMUNITY FOR SUPPORTING THAT EVENT.

JUST MAKES MY HEART HAPPY TO SEE EVERYBODY SO GENEROUS.

AND IT WAS HOT.

PEOPLE WERE VERY NICE, SO IT WAS GREAT TO SEE WIAA COMMITTEE.

WE HAVE NOT HAD OUR NEXT MEETING YET, SO WE SHOULD COVER THAT IN THE NEXT BOARD MEETING.

OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANY WASHINGTON STATE SCHOOL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION UPDATES TONIGHT? YEAH. JUST QUICKLY, WE HAD OUR TRUST LANDS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING TODAY BY ZOOM.

THEY'RE PREPARING FOR THAT LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN THAT THE ONE PIECE OF WE THINK IT'S IT'S GOOD NEWS IS IN LAST YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE SMALLEST SCHOOLS SCHOOLS UNDER 1,000 IN STUDENT POPULATION WERE THE TARGET OF

[00:05:05]

AND THAT IS WELL UNDER WAY.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO DISTRIBUTE $10 MILLION TO SOME OF THE VERY NEEDIEST SMALLEST SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE TO AT LEAST DO SOME REMODELING.

AND THAT IN NO WAY CHANGES THE POOL OF MONEY THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL THE REST OF THE SCHOOLS TO BUILD BUILDINGS WHEN THEY CAN DO THAT AS WELL.

SO IT WAS A SPECIAL EVENT JUST FOR THOSE VERY SMALL SCHOOLS [INAUDIBLE] SCHOOL DISTRICT IN [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY, WHO IS IN PARTICULAR NEED WAS ONE OF THE TARGETS OF THAT.

ANY OTHER WSSDA UPDATES FROM ANYONE? HEARING NONE.

WE HAVE YET TO RESUME TOURS, SO WE WILL DISCUSS THAT FURTHER WHEN ONCE THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTED.

MOVING ON TO DIRECTOR'S REPORTS.

ANY OF THE DIRECTORS OR OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT TONIGHT? FALL SPORTS SEASON IS UNDERWAY, SO.

JAMBOREE WAS PRETTY COOL.

JAMBOREE WAS FUN.

POINT OF PRIVILEGE MAYBE TO ASK.

I NOTICED THAT STUDENT VOICE ISN'T ON THE AGENDA.

DO WE WANT TO MAKE ROOM FOR THAT WITH SCHOOL STARTING, YOU KNOW, THE SCHEDULES AND EVERYTHING CAME OUT.

SO THAT WAS DEFINITELY KIND OF A WAKE UP CALL.

I REALIZED THAT SCHOOL ACTUALLY IS STARTING AND I'M VERY EXCITED FOR SENIOR YEAR.

DEFINITELY FOCUSING ON NEXT YEAR REALLY STRONGLY AS WELL WITH THE APPLICATIONS AND STUFF.

BUT YEAH, WE'RE PLANNING OUR FRESHMAN ORIENTATION FOR TOMORROW AT BATTLE GROUND, SO THAT'LL BE REALLY EXCITING.

WE'RE PLANNING AN ASSEMBLY AND EVERYTHING AND A BUNCH OF GAMES AND STUFF TO GO ALONG WITH THAT.

SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED FOR THAT AND THAT'S ALL I CAN REALLY THINK OF RIGHT NOW.

BUT YOU KNOW, EVERYONE'S VERY UPBEAT, HAPPY FOR THIS NEXT COMING YEAR.

YEAH, I'D SAY ABOUT THE SAME.

WE'RE PLANNING OUR ORIENTATION.

RIVER HOME STARTS A WEEK LATER.

SO WE HAVE ORIENTATION WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

AND ASB KIND OF SETS THAT UP WITH THE REST OF THE SCHOOL.

SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT.

WE HAD AN EXEC MEETING WHERE WE KIND OF PLANNED LIKE OUR PLANS WITH THE WHOLE SENATE AND YEAH, WE'RE JUST WE'RE JUST GETTING THINGS GOING SO THAT WE CAN JUST LIKE TAKE THE SCHOOL YEAR HEAD ON. ANY OTHER DIRECTOR REPORTS? YEAH. JUST UPDATE THE BOARD THAT GOT SOME HELP FROM THE DISTRICT AT THE LAST BOARD PREP FOR PUTTING TOGETHER OUR BOARD OF DISTINCTION APPLICATION AND DIRECTOR LAWHON SAID HE WOULD TEAM UP WITH ME ON THAT.

SO. AND WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE SHELLY'S WORK WITH THE TEACHING AND LEARNING DEPARTMENT, AND WE ARE WE'RE READY TO HELP WITH THAT TOO.

WE'VE IDENTIFIED I THINK WE SENT YOU THAT EMAIL, WE'VE IDENTIFIED SOME OF THE DOCUMENTS AND SUCH.

YEP, THAT'S GREAT.

VERY APPRECIATIVE BECAUSE IT TAKES A TEAM EFFORT AND WE WOULD WE WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP IN THE INITIAL DRAFT OF OF THE ESSAYS.

OKAY. SO GREAT I'LL TAKE ALL THE HELP I CAN GET.

OKAY. YEAH. YEAH.

AND JUST FOR THE AUDIENCE, SINCE IT'S A LITTLE BIGGER, SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTORS HAVE STANDARDS JUST LIKE PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS AND STUDENTS DO.

AND SO THIS IS AN APPLICATION TO SAY, WE THINK WE'VE MET THE STANDARDS FOR THIS PAST CALENDAR YEAR.

THANKS, MARK. UM, I THINK THAT WRAPS IT UP FOR DIRECTOR REPORTS.

AND MOVING ON TO SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF UPDATES.

[6. Superintendent and Staff Updates]

NUMBER ONE IS WE YOU MENTIONED IT ALREADY.

WE HAVE THE BUDGET PRESENTATION, BUT I HOPE PEOPLE WILL CONSIDER STAYING AROUND TO LISTEN TO THE BUDGET PRESENTATION.

AND THEN SECONDLY, I WANTED TO INFORM THE BOARD THAT I DID RECEIVE A NOTICE FROM CANDY HERRERA, WHO IS THE WASHINGTON EDUCATION ASSOCIATION RIVERSIDE UNISERV DIRECTOR.

AND I'M JUST GOING TO READ TO YOU THE EMAIL.

HELLO, DENNY PLEASE ACCEPT THIS EMAIL AS NOTICE PURSUANT TO [INAUDIBLE] 180-016-162 OF A POTENTIAL WORK STOPPAGE TO BEGIN ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30TH.

OUR MEMBERS WILL BE MEETING TOMORROW TO DISCUSS THE STATUS OF BARGAINING AND TO FORMALLY VOTE ON WORK STOPPAGE.

BUT WE WANTED TO MEET THE SPIRIT OF THE RULE WITH THIS NOTICE THE [INAUDIBLE] TALKS ABOUT 48 HOUR NOTICE.

[00:10:01]

SO I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED THAT.

AND WE SENT OUT A NOTICE, AN EMAIL TODAY THAT STAFF IT WAS SENT TO STAFF AT FAMILIES 4:30 AND FAMILIES AT 6:00, 5:30 OR 6:00.

WE GOT THE PHONE CALL.

OKAY. AND THAT'S IT FOR ME.

I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO SHELLY.

LAST TIME I LET YOU KNOW THAT WE WERE REALLY STARTING TO GET ROLLING ON OUR BUSY MONTH AS WE PREPARE FOR SCHOOL TO GET OPENED AND READY TO GO FOR THE YEAR, I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE HAD SOME GREAT TRAININGS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THE TEAM LEAD TRAINING THAT WE HAD FOR OUR BUILDING LEADS.

SO OUR TEAM LEADS AT EACH BUILDING, ATTENDED A TWO DAY TRAINING AND WE HAD SOME PRACTITIONERS FROM OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE NATION THAT ARE GETTING WONDERFUL RESULTS THROUGH THE PLC PROCESS WITH THEIR STUDENTS AND DEVELOPING INTERVENTIONS.

IT WAS A GREAT TRAINING.

I WAS ABLE TO COME AND GO THROUGHOUT THOSE TWO DAYS AND JUST REALLY APPRECIATED THE LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT THAT OUR STAFF WAS INVOLVED WITH IN THE WORK AND EXCITED THAT THEY COULD TAKE IT BACK TO THE BUILDINGS.

AND THEN DURING START UP DAYS, AS YOU KNOW, WE STARTED A WAIVER DAY.

I MEAN, IT'S A START UP DAY, BUT WE HAD A DAY WHERE WE WERE WORKING SPECIFICALLY WITH OUR STANDARDS AND THEN ALSO DOING SOME CURRICULUM PLANNING WITH OUR NEW CURRICULUM AND WAS ABLE TO BE IN A COUPLE OF BUILDINGS AND SEE SOME OF THE WORK THAT THEY WERE DOING, CONTINUING THE TEAM LEAD TRAINING AND AND HOW THE PLC WORK IS UNFOLDING.

SO THAT WAS GREAT TO SEE.

AND THEN THURSDAY WE WERE ABLE TO SPEND SOME TIME.

MANY OF THE DIRECTORS WERE OUT AND ABOUT IN DIFFERENT BUILDINGS AND MYSELF INCLUDED, LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE NEW CURRICULUM THAT WE HAVE IN CHARACTER STRONG.

AND SO REALLY GOOD STUFF GOING ON, WONDERFUL TRAININGS GOING ON FOR OUR STAFF AND AS WE GET READY FOR OUR KIDS.

SO IT WAS GREAT TO SEE, GREAT TO SEE EVERYBODY BACK.

AND IT'S MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR BECAUSE I REALLY HATE SUMMERS WHEN IT GETS REALLY QUIET AROUND HERE AND WE FORGET SOMETIMES WHY WE'RE HERE.

SO I'M GLAD EVERYBODY'S BACK.

AND THAT'S IT FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING.

NEXT IS HR.

AND HR IS CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN NEGOTIATIONS SO NO REPORT THERE.

AND THEN NEXT WOULD BE OUR CFO.

GOOD EVENING, BOARD.

SO JUST LETTING YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE INCLUDED UNDER THE STAFF UPDATES THE SCHOOL FEE SCHEDULE FOR 23-24. IT'S POLICY 3520 DOES DESIGNATE SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE TO ESTABLISH APPROPRIATE FEES AND PROCEDURES.

AND I HAVE LISTED THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN UPDATED ON THE FEE SCHEDULE.

THE WE WORKED WITH OUR SCHOOLS AND ADMINISTRATORS ON ALIGNING CONSISTENT FEES ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND THERE ARE INCREASES DUE TO THE COST OF MATERIALS.

THOSE ARE PASSTHROUGHS.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, JUST LET ME KNOW.

BUT THAT WAS MY ONLY UPDATE WAS LETTING YOU KNOW THAT WAS ON THE STAFF UPDATE.

WELL, IT HAS BEEN A BUSY SUMMER WRAPPING UP ON ALL OF OUR PROJECTS.

THE MAIN ONE, OF COURSE, IS CAM.

WE'LL HAVE OUR TEMPORARY CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY TOMORROW.

THERE'S A COUPLE ITEMS LEFT.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO OPEN UP SCHOOL RIGHT ON SCHEDULE.

LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL THE KIDS GETTING TO SEE THAT CAMPUS AND ALL MY OTHER.

THERE'S NOTHING STOPPING OR SLOWING US DOWN FROM OPENING.

I JUST WANT TO SAY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR WORK AND YOUR CREW'S WORK THIS SUMMER.

FANTASTIC JOB. THANK YOU.

AND NO REPORT FROM COMMUNICATIONS.

SO THAT'S IT FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THAT MOVES US ON TO CITIZENS COMMENTS.

[7. Citizens' Comments]

[00:15:01]

REFRAIN FROM DISCUSSING AND REFRAINING FROM DISCUSSING CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS.

BOARD MEMBERS DO NOT NORMALLY RESPOND TO QUESTIONS OR PETITIONS DURING CITIZENS COMMENTS.

THEY WILL LISTEN AND GIVE DIRECTION TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM IF ACTION IS DEEMED NECESSARY.

PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL OF ALL PRESENTERS AND REFRAIN FROM CLAPPING OR MAKING ANY COMMENTS WHILE A PERSON IS PRESENTING.

BATTLE GROUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS POLICY 1400 STATES THE BOARD PRESIDENT MAY TERMINATE AN INDIVIDUAL STATEMENT WHEN A LOT OF TIME HAS PASSED AND MAY INTERRUPT A SPEAKER TO REQUIRE THE SAME STANDARD OF CIVILITY THAT THE BOARD IMPOSES ON ITSELF.

IN THE EVENT THAT THE MEETING IS INTERRUPTED BY A GROUP OR GROUPS OF PERSONS SO AS TO RENDER THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF SUCH MEETINGS UNFEASIBLE, AN ORDER CANNOT BE RESTORED, THE BOARD MAY ORDER THE MEETING ROOM CLEARED AND CONTINUE IN SESSION OR MAY ADJOURN THE MEETING AND RECONVENE IN ANOTHER LOCATION.

IN SUCH A SESSION, FINAL DISPOSITION MAY BE TAKEN ONLY ON MATTERS APPEARING ON THE AGENDA.

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PRESS SHALL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND THE MEETING.

I DON'T SEE THAT WE WOULD EVER HAVE TO USE THIS, BUT I ALWAYS THINK IT'S A GOOD REMINDER FOR ALL OF US.

SO I WANTED TO START THERE.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER TONIGHT.

OH, I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT SORA, OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE, YOU WILL SEE THE TIMER GO ON THE SCREEN AS WELL AS SHE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT AND THEN WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP AND SHE'LL HOLD UP THOSE FLYERS HIGH.

SO OUR FIRST SPEAKER TONIGHT IS JORDAN JOHNSTON.

IF YOU'D PLEASE COME FORWARD.

GOOD EVENING.

YOU GOT IT? I GOT IT.

OKAY. I'M JORDAN JOHNSTON AND I AM AN ENGLISH TEACHER AT BATTLE GROUND HIGH SCHOOL, AND I'M STARTING MY 16TH YEAR HERE, AND I WANTED TO SPEAK ON WHY I STAY IN BATTLE GROUND AND AS WELL AS ADDRESS OUR MULTILINGUAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER STUDENTS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE.

I STAY IN BG BECAUSE I LOVE IT HERE.

LIKE, I MEAN, I HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO GO OTHER PLACES AND IT'S JUST I LOVE IT HERE.

I DON'T EVER WANT TO TEACH ANYWHERE ELSE, AND THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE I'VE EVER TAUGHT.

IT WAS MY SECOND INTERVIEW AND I LOVE IT HERE.

JUST LIKE I KNOW ALL OF YOU DO.

AND WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, WE LIVED IN VISTA, CALIFORNIA, AND I WAS INVOLVED IN BILINGUAL CLASSES.

SO FROM FIRST THROUGH PARTIALLY THIRD GRADE, I WORKED WITH STUDENTS WHO WERE NEW TO THE UNITED STATES.

AND WE WOULD TEACH EACH OTHER OUR LANGUAGES, OUR NATIVE LANGUAGES.

AND SO THAT HAS INFLUENCED ME AS A TEACHER, HOW IMPORTANT MY ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER AND MULTILINGUAL STUDENTS ARE AND HOW THE THE RICHNESS OF LIFE AND LANGUAGE EXPERIENCES FROM THESE STUDENTS ENHANCE OUR CLASSES AND THEY DESERVE SUPPORT AND WE MUST PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT SO THAT THEY CAN FLOURISH AS LEARNERS.

AND THERE MUST BE LANGUAGE IN THE CONTRACT TO SUPPORT THEIR TEACHERS IN THEIR ENDEAVORS TO HELP THOSE KIDS SUCCEED.

AND WHILE I URGE YOU TO KEEP THESE STUDENTS IN MIND REALLY THINK ABOUT THESE KIDS AND HOW SPECIAL THEY ARE AND HOW MUCH THEY ADD TO OUR CLASSES, HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE.

KEEP IN MIND, YOU KNOW, THE THEIR TEACHERS AND HOW HARD THEIR TEACHERS ARE WORKING TO SUPPORT THEM TO SUCCEED.

WHILE I URGE YOU TO KEEP THEM IN MIND DURING THE BARGAINING PROCESS, I ALSO URGE YOU TO REMEMBER THAT THESE KIDS ARE KIDS.

THERE ARE KIDS, AND THEY DESERVE THE BEST.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. NEXT UP, WE HAVE KAREN REDDINGTON.

DID I SAY YOUR LAST NAME RIGHT? REDDINGTON. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF REDDINGTONS' HERE, SO HI MY NAME IS KAREN REDDINGTON.

I AM A FIFTH YEAR TEACHER.

I CURRENTLY TEACH RIGHT OVER HERE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL CBC STUDENTS.

I LOVE MY JOB, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE AMAZING IF THE PRESS COULD REPORT HOW BATTLE GROUND DIDN'T HAVE TO STRIKE THAT OUR BARGAINING TEAM

[00:20:01]

WHAT AN EXAMPLE WE COULD SHOW THAT WE WERE ABLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT AND DIDN'T HAVE TO DISRUPT OUR SCHOOL YEAR.

THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME DON'T DIRECTLY AFFECT ME.

BUT JUST LIKE JORDAN WAS TALKING ABOUT THE MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS, I THINK IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE KEEP UP WITH THE POPULATION THAT IS IN OUR DISTRICT.

LAST YEAR, I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBERS ON HOW MANY UKRAINIAN REFUGEES WE HAD, BUT IN THE CBC DEPARTMENT WE HAD TWO.

WE HAD NO IDEA HOW TO DEAL WITH THE LANGUAGE BARRIER.

THE STUDENT THAT I WORKED WITH, FORTUNATELY, DID HAVE ACCESS TO ENGLISH LANGUAGE TO SOME DEGREE.

HER OTHER DISABILITIES MADE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE EXACTLY WHERE HER SKILLS WERE.

THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE RESOURCE CASELOADS, AND WE ARE LIMITED.

WE ARE A LIMITED RESOURCE.

I'M VERY PERSONALLY HAPPY WITH THE THE INCOME THAT YOU HAVE PROPOSED FOR THIS UPCOMING THREE YEARS.

BUT WE CANNOT BE STRETCHED BEYOND WHAT WE'RE PHYSICALLY CAPABLE OF.

WE WANT TO DO OUR VERY BEST FOR EVERY STUDENT, AND WHEN WE GET MORE STUDENTS THAN WE CAN PHYSICALLY MANAGE, IT MAKES IT SO DIFFICULT TO GIVE THEM THE EDUCATION THAT THEY DESERVE.

AND SO I THINK THAT THE PROPOSALS THAT THE BARGAINING TEAM HAVE BROUGHT UP ARE REALLY IN THE BEST INTEREST FOR THE STUDENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE AN EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE EDUCATION THAT EVERY PERSON LIVING IN BATTLE GROUND HAS A RIGHT TO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

PLEASE LET US GO TO WORK ON WEDNESDAY.

THAT'S ALL WE WANT TO DO IS TEACH.

WE DON'T WANT TO WASTE TIME WITH STRIKES AND ALL THE THINGS THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT.

WE REALLY WANT TO BE IN OUR CLASSROOMS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THERESA EDMONDSON.

HI, I'M THERESA EDMONDSON AND I TEACH FIFTH GRADE.

I TEACH ELA, HISTORY, ENRICHMENT AND ADVISORY.

I'M GOING TO READ FROM MY LETTER SO I DON'T MISS ANYTHING, BUT I'M FOLLOWING UP WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.

CLASS SIZE, ESPECIALLY, AND WORKLOAD ARE A CONCERN.

AFTER EIGHT MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS, BATTLE GROUND SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE BARGAINING TEAM HAS NOT YET ADDRESSED SOME OF THE REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES.

CLASS SIZE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO STUDENT SUCCESS.

FOR FIFTH GRADE, TYPICALLY CONSIDERED PRIMARY SCHOOL AGE, MOST DISTRICTS THE DISTRICT WANTS TO RAISE THE NUMBER FROM 28 TO 32 STUDENTS.

IT'S TOUGH EVEN WITH YEARS WHEN YOU HAVE 28 TO SERVE THEM APPROPRIATELY, GIVE THEM TIMELY FEEDBACK, COMMUNICATE WITH THE PARENTS, ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS YOU MUST DO THAT WOULD BE BEFORE RECEIVING ANY EXTRA SUPPORT OR COMPENSATION.

CLASSES FUNCTION BEST, IN MY OPINION, AT 24 TO 25 AT THIS AGE, LEVEL 32 MAYBE WOULDN'T EVEN BE A MAXIMUM.

I TEACH IN A PORTABLE BUILDING.

IT'S PRETTY CROWDED WHEN YOU GET THAT MANY STUDENTS AND SOMETIMES A ONE ON ONE AIDE OR TWO IN THERE.

MY STUDENTS HAVE DIVERSE NEEDS.

I'M LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCOMMODATIONS ON 504 PLANS IEPS, HIGHLY CAPABLE LEARNERS, LIFE THREATENING HEALTH CONDITIONS.

I SEE A LOT OF STUDENTS WITH ANXIETY, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, BEHAVIOR ISSUES.

WITH EACH STUDENT COMES ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES, MEETINGS, PARENT COMMUNICATION, DOCUMENTATION.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEIR ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL NEEDS.

RAISING CLASS SIZES TAKES MY JOB FROM CHALLENGING TO OVERWHELMING.

I LOSE FAMILY TIME, PERSONAL TIME AND SLEEP.

MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SIMILAR WORKLOAD ISSUES.

THERE'S CURRENTLY NO CONTRACT LANGUAGE FOR THE MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS AS ADDRESSED BEFORE THE TEACHERS, AND THE POPULATION JUST CONTINUES TO GROW.

OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND PARAS NEED TIME TO COLLABORATE.

THEY'RE WORKING WITH MEDICALLY FRAGILE, ACADEMICALLY CHALLENGED, HIGH BEHAVIOR, SOMETIMES DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR.

STUDENTS, THEY NEED TO BE TRAINED, TALK WITH THE TEACHER TO BEST MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS, OUR NURSES, OUR PSYCHS, OUR SLPS, OUR OTS.

THEY NEED MANAGEABLE CASELOADS TOO.

LASTLY, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A COMPARABLE SALARY TO OTHER DISTRICTS JUST TO KEEP AN ATTRACT THE QUALITY EDUCATORS.

BUT IT'S TIME TO REACH THAT AGREEMENT.

WE DON'T WANT TO STRIKE.

WE WANT TO START OUR SCHOOL YEAR.

WE WANT TO BE WITH OUR KIDS.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. KIM BECKER.

THANK YOU. HI, I'M KIM [INAUDIBLE].

OF COURSE, YOUR BATTLE GROUND EDUCATION ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT.

AND TONIGHT, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY AND BARGAINING.

[00:25:04]

THE GROWTH IS BECOMING IS WHAT MANY OF US NEVER EXPECTED.

AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, I AM PROUD I SEE YOUNG PEOPLE MAKING THIS HOME WHEN THEY FINISH SCHOOL.

I REMEMBER HEARING STUDENTS WANTING TO LEAVE TO HAVE A REAL LIFE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES, TO HAVE A CAREER AND A HOME.

BUT WITH THIS, GROWTH COMES GROWING PAINS.

AND RIGHT NOW THAT IS HERE AT OUR BARGAINING TABLES, WE HAVE MENTIONED THAT OUR COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY BATTLE GROUND, GREW DURING THE THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE 10% OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION THAT ARE MULTI LANGUAGE LEARNERS.

THAT'S OVER 1,100 STUDENTS.

WE NEED PROPER GUIDELINES TO TEACH FOR TEACHERS TO BEST TEACH THESE CHILDREN.

OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION SECTION NEEDS THE BEST COLLABORATION.

WE SEE THIS.

WE'VE SEEN THIS IN THE PAST YEAR, HOW WE HAD THE LACK OF LOSS OF LEARNING IN THE STATE.

WE'RE NUMBER ONE IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S THE TEACHERS THAT GAVE YOU THAT.

THEY WERE THE ONES ON THE FRONT LINES.

WE HAD YOUR HELP. WE NEED MORE.

SO WHAT I'M ASKING IS WE NEED THESE TEACHERS TO STAY.

SO IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE ONLY HAVE TWO DISTRICTS THAT ARE ACTUALLY MAKING LESS THAN WE ARE.

YET WE'RE WE'RE CONSIDERED THE SIZE.

WE'RE 24TH DENNY SAID THIS AT THE NEW TEACHER ORIENTATION, 24TH OUT OF 396 DISTRICTS.

YET WE HAVE TWO ONLY TWO DISTRICTS IN THIS COUNTY THAT ACTUALLY PAY LESS THAN US.

SO PLEASE HELP OUR TEACHERS WITH THIS BARGAINING BY OPENING YOUR POCKETS.

SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO SPEND MONEY TO MAKE THE MONEY.

AND THIS IS REMEMBER, WE ARE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY.

WE'RE NOT NONPROFIT, SO WE DON'T NEED THESE BIG WE DO NEED MONEY TO HELP US TO HAVE THOSE RAINY DAY FUNDS.

BUT THOSE RAINY DAY FUNDS DON'T NEED TO BE SO LARGE THAT WE'RE OUT HERE BUYING OURSELVES A HUGE SPECIAL SUMMER HOME.

WE NEED TO USE THOSE FUNDS TO HELP OUR CHILDREN, AND THAT'S ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JAMIE GRIFFITH.

HI, I'M JAMIE GRIFFITH, KINDERGARTEN AT MAPLE GROVE.

I'VE BEEN IN THIS DISTRICT FOR 20 YEARS, MINUS ONE YEAR OF A LAPSE OF JUDGMENT.

AND ONE REASON WHY I CAME BACK TO THIS DISTRICT WAS BECAUSE OF THE EDUCATORS HERE.

I REMEMBER AT THIS OTHER PLACE THAT THEY DID NOT NEED TO TEACH THEIR SPECIAL ED KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM BECAUSE THE SPECIAL ED TEACHER DID THAT.

HERE SPECIAL ED KIDS, OUR KIDS AND EVERYTHING THAT THE [INAUDIBLE] NEGOTIATION TEAM IS ASKING FOR DIRECTLY IMPACTS OUR STUDENTS.

THESE ARE OUR KIDS, OUR STUDENTS.

WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR THINGS THAT ARE FINANCIALLY IRRESPONSIBLE.

THEY CAN ALL BE PROVIDED FOR THROUGH THE 17.3% RAINY DAY FUND.

ANOTHER REASON WHY I CAME BACK WAS WITH THE MULTILINGUAL STUDENTS.

I HAD ONE AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT WITH THE STUDENT.

THIS YEAR, IN MY KINDERGARTEN CLASS OF 18, AT LAST COUNT, I HAVE SEVEN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AND OUR MULTILINGUAL TEACHER HAS 47 NEW STUDENTS SO FAR, NOT COUNTING THE ONES THAT ARE ALREADY ENROLLED.

SO EVERYTHING THAT IS BEING ASKED FOR, FOR MULTILINGUAL, FOR STUDENT CASELOADS, FOR SPECIAL ED, FOR OUR OWN CLASSROOMS, NOT TO MENTION THE FIRE HAZARD AND WITH CLASS SIZES IS DIRECTLY IMPACTS OUR STUDENTS.

THEY ARE NOT JUST FOR US, THEY ARE FOR OUR STUDENTS FIRST AND FOREMOST IS OUR STUDENTS.

THAT'S WHO WE ARE FIGHTING FOR.

AND SO JUST WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT THOSE WANTS AND NEEDS, THEY'RE NOT ONCE THEY ARE NEEDS FOR OUR STUDENTS.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. KIMBERLY VYSSOTSKY.

YEAH, YOU GOT IT. I'M DOING GOOD TONIGHT.

YEAH. HEY, KIM.

HI DENNY. HI, SHELLY.

HELLO, BOARD. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TONIGHT.

MY NAME IS KIMBERLY VYSSOTSKY.

I AM A RECENT ADDITION TO THE CHIEF MIDDLE SCHOOL STAFF THIS YEAR.

FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADE ASPIRE.

I'VE WORKED THE LAST TEN YEARS AT LAURIN MIDDLE SCHOOL IN SEVENTH GRADE.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY THING I'VE DONE HERE IN THIS DISTRICT.

I WAS A STUDENT HERE FROM THIRD GRADE WHEN MY FAMILY MOVED HERE.

I WENT ALL THE WAY THROUGH CAPTAIN STRONG.

I WENT TO LEWISVILLE RIGHT HERE.

THIS CLASSROOM WAS MY SCIENCE CLASS IN SIXTH GRADE.

[00:30:02]

SO I HAVE A LONG STANDING HISTORY HERE.

I'VE WANTED TO STAY HERE SO MUCH SO THAT MY STUDENT, MY OWN SON, MY OLDEST ELLIOT, WILL BE STARTING KINDERGARTEN AT CAPTAIN STRONG THIS YEAR.

WE WANT TO GO TO WORK ON AUGUST 30TH.

MY SON WANTS TO GO TO SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME ON AUGUST 30TH.

BUT THERE ARE THINGS RIGHT NOW THAT ARE KEEPING US FROM THAT.

THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN A TIMELY MANNER.

OUR BARGAINING TEAM HAS MISSED 16 SCHOOL DAYS THIS LAST YEAR AWAY FROM THEIR STUDENTS WHO THEY ARE TRYING TO SUPPORT AND ARE AFRAID TO MISS MORE.

BUT THEY WILL BECAUSE WE NEED A FAIR CONTRACT THAT NOT ONLY SUPPORTS THE STAFF, BUT THE STUDENTS.

THE STUDENTS NEED SUPPORT.

THIS POPULATION HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY SINCE I WAS A STUDENT.

AT LAURIN MIDDLE SCHOOL WE HAVE 33% MULTILINGUAL STUDENTS.

THAT'S HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE.

WE'RE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE DISTRICT, AND THAT'S PRIMARILY WHERE A LOT OF MULTILINGUAL FAMILIES ARE MOVING.

THOSE BUILDINGS ARE FALLING APART.

WE KNOW WE CAN'T FIX THE BUILDINGS, BUT WE CAN MAKE WHAT WE HAVE WORK BY GIVING THEM THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.

SAME WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION.

OUR STUDENTS NEED TO HAVE PREPARED EDUCATORS.

THAT'S PARAEDUCATORS AND STAFF MEMBERS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GIVING THEM THE BEST CHANCE AT SUCCESS.

THAT IS OUR JOB.

WE NEED TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS NEGOTIATION.

PARENTS NEED TO KNOW WHY THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND WE'RE NOT BEING AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY SEE IT'S NOT JUST SALARY FOR TEACHERS.

IT'S ALL THESE OTHER LINE ITEMS THAT MATTER TO THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES EDUCATION AND WELL-BEING.

IF WE ARE GOING TO WORK BETTER TOGETHER, THAT SHOULD BE STARTING AT THE BARGAINING TABLE WHERE WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR CONTRACT SUPPORTS THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND THE DISTRICT HERE IN THIS AREA.

I LOVE BEING HERE IN BATTLE GROUND, BUT I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE BEST SUPPORTS POSSIBLE FOR THE STUDENTS HERE AS A TEACHER AND AS A PARENT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

JEN GWARTNEY.

HI, I'M JEN GWARTNEY.

I TEACH AT BATTLE GROUND HIGH SCHOOL.

SO MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY SAID, YOU KNOW, MANY THINGS THAT I COULD TOUCH ON, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THIS WILL BE THE BEGINNING OF MY 25TH YEAR, ALL OF THEM IN BATTLE GROUND THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE I'VE EVER BEEN.

I WILL REITERATE THAT I DO LOVE WORKING HERE AND I LOVE THE KIDS.

YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T STAY HERE IF I DIDN'T.

AND I'VE HAD LOTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT OVER THE YEARS.

WHY ARE YOU STILL TEACHING THERE? YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T PAY YOU AS MUCH.

YOU DON'T HAVE AS GOOD OF RESOURCES.

AND I JUST DON'T WANT YOU TO FORGET PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO HAVE TAUGHT IN THIS DISTRICT FOREVER, WHO'VE BEEN THROUGH VERY LEAN TIMES AND STILL GIVEN OUR BEST THROUGH THE MOMENTS WHEN WE USED TO GET, YOU KNOW, TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES FROM COMPANIES THAT DIDN'T WANT THEIR COMPUTERS ANYMORE, YOU KNOW, AND WE MADE IT WORK, YOU KNOW, AND, AND EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS ON THIS CONTRACT THAT ARE NOT ABOUT COMPENSATION, PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE THINGS WE WOULDN'T ASK FOR THOSE THINGS IF WE DIDN'T THINK THAT THEY WERE NECESSARY FOR OUR CHILDREN.

AND WE DO THINK OF THEM AS OUR CHILDREN.

EVERY SINGLE CLASS THAT GOES THROUGH GROUP OF STUDENTS THAT GOES THROUGH OUR CLASSROOM IS OUR STUDENTS.

AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE FOR YEARS AND YEARS WHEN THEY KEEP COMING IN AND VISITING YOU AFTER THEY'VE LEFT YOUR CLASSROOM.

BUT PLEASE DON'T FORGET ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO, LIKE I'M ON THE OUTSIDE OF MY CAREER AND THESE ARE MY BEST EARNING YEARS.

AND I SPENT ABOUT 18 YEARS OF MY CAREER BEFORE I GOT A SIGNIFICANT RAISE.

SO PLEASE JUST DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE FACT OF ALL OF US WHO GIVE OUR HEART AND SOUL WHO DO COMMITTEE AFTER COMMITTEE THAT'S UNPAID CHAPERON, DANCES, BUY THINGS FOR OUR STUDENTS, KEEP SNACKS IN OUR DESK, YOU KNOW, FEED CHILDREN THAT ARE HUNGRY, HUG THEM WHEN THEY NEED IT.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WE'RE OUT HERE GIVING OUR HEART AND SOUL, AND I JUST HOPE THAT YOU CAN SEE US AND HONOR US IN THIS CONTRACT.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. EUNICE INGERMANSON.

GOOD EVENING, BOARD.

[00:35:02]

I LIVE IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND I APPRECIATE WHAT THE TEACHERS HAVE BEEN SAYING AND I APPRECIATE YOUR HEART FOR THE BEST EDUCATION FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.

NOT TWO WEEKS AGO, I ASKED FOR THE DISTRICT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2023 HEALTHY YOUTH SURVEY AS PROACTIVELY AND AS FULLY AS POSSIBLE. I'M HERE TO HARP ON IT YET AGAIN, KNOWING ALREADY THAT YOU HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING.

I'M ASKING YOU TO PARTICIPATE WITH NO HOLDS BARRED.

AN IMPORTANT POINT THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY YOUR STUDENT REPS IN A CONVERSATION AFTER THE LAST BOARD MEETING WAS THAT SOME STUDENTS SEEM TO TAKE THIS EXERCISE AS A JOKE AND ANSWER THE SURVEY QUESTIONS BY FILLING OUT RANDOM ANSWERS.

WHILE I'M CONFIDENT THAT THOSE WHO ANALYZE THE SURVEY ARE EQUIPPED TO CALL OUT THE BAD DATA SETS, EACH OF THE BAD SET REPRESENTS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENT'S REALITY TO BE COUNTED.

THIS SURVEY IS WIDELY CONSULTED BY THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, OSPI, AND MANY YOUTH SERVING ORGANIZATIONS AS A MEANS OF TAKING A PULSE ON THE YOUTH, DEMOGRAPHICS, HEALTH HABITS AND RISKY BEHAVIORS.

INSTITUTIONS MAKE POLICY DECISIONS BASED ON THIS WHAT THE SURVEY REVEALS.

ORGANIZATIONS USE IT TO UNDERSTAND OUR YOUTH'S MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND TO DECIDE HOW BEST TO DIRECT THEIR RESOURCES.

THE SURVEY MAY BE TEDIOUS, AND IT MAY TAKE ASK SOME AWKWARD QUESTIONS, BUT THE STUDENTS TAKING THE TIME TO READ AND UNDERSTAND THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERING THEM HONESTLY AND TRUTHFULLY WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CORRECT ASSESSMENT OF WHERE OUR YOUTH ARE AT.

AND THAT WILL HELP OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR YOUTH BETTER.

PLEASE COMMUNICATE THIS TO THE STUDENTS, PARENTS AND THOSE WHO ADMINISTER THE SURVEY ALONG WITH SINCERE APPRECIATION AND THANKS FROM MYSELF AND OTHERS WHO USE THE INFORMATION GATHERED BY THE SURVEY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND BETTER SERVE OUR YOUTH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR CITIZENS COMMENTS FOR THE EVENING.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING RESPECTFUL AND NOT BEING DISRUPTIVE AND IT REALLY IS APPRECIATED.

AS I SAID IN THE BEGINNING, I DIDN'T EXPECT ANY DISRUPTION, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HONORING THAT.

MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, WE HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH ITEMS A THROUGH I

[8. Consent Agenda (Board Vote w/Student Voice)]

IS THERE ANY ITEMS THAT THE BOARD HAS QUESTIONS ON OR THAT NEED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT? I'LL MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED TO IT.

GREAT. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

I WOULD LOOK TO OUR STUDENTS FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRO PRO.

AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY, LIKE THE YEAR'S FIRST STUDENT TRAVELS ON HERE.

YOU LOVE THE STUDENTS. I LOVE THE STUDENT TRAVEL.

AND IT SAYS THAT CASEY IS GOING TO MOUNT SAINT HELENS FOR THEIR FORESTRY RESEARCH THING THAT THEY DO.

AND I ALWAYS LOVE LOOKING AT PICTURES OF THAT AND STUFF.

AND THAT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT LOOKS SUPER FUN.

SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT ON THE 14TH AND 15TH OF SEPTEMBER.

BUT YEAH, I VOTE PRO.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? ITEMS TO TALK ABOUT FROM THE BOARD.

HEARING NONE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED.

MOTION PASSES 4 TO 0.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE WILL STOP OUR CURRENT MEETING.

[11. Budget Hearing]

IF IT PLEASES THE BOARD, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN OPENING STATEMENT ON THE BUDGET.

[00:40:05]

I GUESS BEFORE I START WITH THE BUDGET, I WANTED TO ADDRESS MY COLLEAGUES IN THE ROOM.

THANK YOU. AND I WANTED TO SAY THAT I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR THE ROLE OF THE UNION.

I CERTAINLY RESPECT THE BGA BARGAINING TEAM AND ALL IT DOES IN TERMS OF ADVOCACY FOR THE MEMBERS AND I REALLY RESPECT THE PROCESS.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, I RESPECT ALL OF OUR STAFF AND I'M SO GREATLY APPRECIATIVE FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THIS DISTRICT AND FOR KIDS. AND MY HOPE IS THAT IN MY TIME HERE, MY WORDS AND PAST ACTIONS HAVE PROVEN THAT.

I'VE CONVEYED THAT TO ALL OF YOU.

AND IF THEY HAVEN'T, THEN THAT'S ON ME.

AND I'M SORRY FOR THAT.

THOUGH, I NEED TO BE CAREFUL WHAT I SAY BECAUSE THERE ARE RULES ASSOCIATED WITH BARGAINING AND I DON'T WANT TO CIRCUMVENT THAT PROCESS.

SO I'M GOING TO SPEAK IN GENERALITIES AND NOT SPECIFICS.

AND I SAY THIS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT MY VAGUENESS TO BE TAKEN AS BEING ELUSIVE OR NOT BEING TRANSPARENT. I'M JUST TRYING TO WALK A FINE LINE, AND I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND.

I SPEAK TO YOU TODAY BECAUSE THAT'S MY JOB.

IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY AS A LEADER TO DO SO.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE BOARD UNDERSTAND, OR FOR THAT MATTER, ANYBODY WHO'S HERE UNDERSTAND MY THOUGHT PROCESS AND THE REASONING BEHIND OUR BUDGET MAKING PROCESS AND MY CONCERNS ABOUT OUR LONG TERM FINANCIAL HEALTH.

AT THE SAME TIME, I UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOPIC AND BECAUSE IT IS FILLED WITH SO MUCH EMOTION, BECAUSE IT'S DIRECTLY TIED TO LABOR NEGOTIATIONS THAT THERE MAY BE A NEED TO HAVE A BAD GUY.

I'VE HEARD SOME PEOPLE SAY IT'S THE BOARD.

I'VE HEARD SOME PEOPLE SAY IT'S THE UNION.

I'VE HEARD SOME PEOPLE SAY IT MIGHT EVEN BE THE TEACHERS.

I'VE HEARD SOME PEOPLE SAY IT'S THE DISTRICT, WHICH WOULD BE ME.

I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT'S ANY OF THOSE.

I JUST THINK THAT IT'S A TOUGH, TOUGH SITUATION.

BUT I'M HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY TO SAY THAT IF ANYBODY NEEDS A VILLAIN.

I ACCEPT THAT ROLE BECAUSE I'VE HEARD IT SAID BEFORE AND MANY PEOPLE WOULD STILL SAY, I GUESS THAT'S WHY I GET THE BIG BUCKS.

THAT BEING SAID, HERE'S OR MY THOUGHT PROCESS REGARDING THIS BUDGET.

WE TRY TO BUILD A BUDGET AND DECIDE TO SPEND OUR MONEY ON THINGS BY LISTENING.

WE LISTEN TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND THAT INCLUDES OUR STAFF AND OUR BARGAINING UNITS, BGA AND PSC AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND OUR AD SUPPORT.

AND WE LISTEN TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT'S OUR PARENTS GUARDIANS, OUR FAMILIES, OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, OUR TAX PAYERS.

AND OF COURSE, I KNOW THAT I SPEAK FOR EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM.

WE'RE ALWAYS THINKING OF OUR STUDENTS AND I THINK ALL OF US WOULD AGREE THAT YOU ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT TO US.

WE ARE TRYING TO GIVE OUR STUDENTS WHAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND THE BEST, MOST COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMING THAT WE CAN PROVIDE.

AND THAT'S WHERE THE BUDGET COMES IN, BECAUSE ALL OF THIS HAS A COST AND WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO PAY FOR IT.

[00:45:02]

BUT EVERY GROUP, EVERY PERSON HAS THEIR OWN PRIORITIES, AND YOU WANT TO HONOR THAT AS BEST YOU CAN.

I PROMISE YOU YOU WANT TO HONOR THAT AS BEST YOU CAN.

SOMETIMES EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE YOU GET LUCKY AND YOU FIND A PRIORITY THAT ALMOST EVERYBODY CAN AGREE ON AND YOU HAVE NO QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY. SOMETHING LIKE SAFETY OR SECURITY.

BUT MOST OF THE TIME YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY ON STUFF THAT SOME PEOPLE THINK IS A GREAT IDEA AND SOME PEOPLE THINK YOU'RE CRAZY OR THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

AND SO YOU HAVE TO FIND A BALANCE.

I COME BACK TO OUR STAKEHOLDER GROUPS.

WE TRY TO LISTEN.

WE TRY TO LISTEN TO EVERYBODY.

STAFF, PARENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND STUDENTS.

THE PROBLEM THAT YOU HAVE SOMETIMES, THOUGH, IS THAT THERE ARE LIMITS TO MONEY.

IT'S NOT ENDLESS, AND WE'RE SEEING THAT REFLECTED IN OUR BUDGET PLANNING.

THIS YEAR WE WILL TAKE IN MICHELLE WILL TALK ABOUT THIS IN THE BUDGET PROCESS $221 MILLION.

WE'RE PROJECTED TO SPEND $232 MILLION.

WE AREN'T CUTTING ANYTHING BECAUSE WE'RE USING FUND BALANCE TO COVER EXCESS SPENDING.

THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS.

I HEAR PEOPLE SAY ALL THE TIME TO ME.

I HEARD, I HEARD.

I FORGOT WHO IT WAS.

BUT I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

I THINK IT WAS JEN.

JEN SAID, I HEAR PEOPLE ALL THE TIME WHO SAY, WHY DON'T YOU MOVE DISTRICTS? I HEAR PEOPLE SAY ALL THE TIME, WELL, WE WANT TO BE LIKE EVERGREEN OR WE WANT TO BE LIKE CAMAS.

AND THOSE ARE GREAT DISTRICTS AND THEY DO A LOT OF GOOD THINGS GOING FOR THEM WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGET.

BUT DO WE REALLY WANT TO BE LIKE THEM? LAST YEAR, EVERGREEN MADE $20 MILLION IN CUTS.

CAMAS MADE 7.5 BATTLE GROUND MADE ZERO.

I CAN REMEMBER A TIME WHEN WE WERE ALWAYS IN DIRE FINANCIAL STRAITS.

POOR, POOR BATTLE GROUND.

WE HAVE DONE WELL TO CHANGE OUR IMAGE AND BECOME LEADERS IN SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON.

OUR REPUTATION CONTINUES TO GROW AND WE CONTINUE TO DO AMAZING THINGS.

I WANT THIS TO BE WHO WE ARE.

BUT IN ORDER TO DO THIS, WE HAVE TO BE SMART.

WE HAVE TO BE REASONABLE.

WE HAVE TO BE FAIR.

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT OUR PRIORITIES AND TAKE CARE OF ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS.

AND THAT'S THE HARD PART ABOUT THIS.

I BELIEVE WE ARE IN FOR SOME TOUGH TIMES FINANCIALLY.

UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK IT IS A TREND FOR US IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, MOSTLY BECAUSE WE'RE LOSING ESSER FUNDS AND STATE MONIES LIKE ENROLLMENT, STABILIZATION AND TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT.

OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE HAVE RECEIVED AN EQUIVALENT TO $40 MILLION FROM THIS.

WE'VE ALL HEARD ABOUT IT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE HITTING THAT DAMNED FISCAL CLIFF.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN MAKE IT THROUGH THIS TIME BECAUSE WE AS A DISTRICT HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS GOING FOR US.

NUMBER ONE, WE ARE EXPERIENCING GROWTH.

KIM MENTIONED IT.

WE ARE GROWING UNLIKE ANYTHING WE'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE IN THIS AREA.

AND WE ALL KNOW THAT ENROLLMENT DRIVES REVENUE.

AND IN A FEW YEARS I THINK IT WILL COME IN STRONG AND WE WILL SEE THE BENEFITS OF THAT.

AND ANOTHER REASON I THINK WE CAN MAKE IT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE.

AND I HEAR IT.

I HEAR PEOPLE SAY ALL THE TIME THE FUND BALANCE SHOULD BE USED AND I AM PROMISING ALL OF YOU THAT IT WILL BE USED.

I PROMISE WE WILL USE IT TO FUND SUPPORTS FOR KIDS AND STAFF.

I PROMISE IT WILL BE USED FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY INITIATIVES AND IMPROVEMENTS.

I PROMISE IT WILL BE USED TO FIX AND UPGRADE OUR FACILITIES.

I PROMISE IT WILL BE USED FOR NEW CURRICULUM IN PD AND I PROMISE IT WILL BE USED TO

[00:50:01]

AND WHEN I SAY SALARY INCREASES, I MEAN SALARY INCREASES FOR ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDER GROUPS.

IT WILL BE AND IT SHOULD BE USED FOR ALL OF US, FOR OUR STUDENTS, FOR OUR STAFF, FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR OUR TAXPAYERS.

EVERYBODY DESERVES TO FEEL SUPPORTED AND LISTENED TO.

AND HERE'S THE RUB.

CAN WE DO EVERYTHING? CAN WE DO IT ALL? NO, I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

CAN WE DO A LOT? YEAH, I THINK WE CAN.

CAN WE CONTINUE TO MAKE IT BETTER? DEFINITELY.

FUND BALANCE IS TRICKY.

IT'S A SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

ONCE YOU DECIDE TO SPEND IT, IT'S GONE.

IT'S GREAT IF YOU WANT TO BUY A ONE TIME PURCHASE LIKE CURRICULUM OR A NEW SCOREBOARD FOR THE STADIUM OR RENOVATE A TRACK.

GREAT USE FUND BALANCE AND NOW YOU'RE GOOD FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

BUT IT'S HARDER WHEN IT'S ONGOING COSTS BECAUSE EVENTUALLY THE FUND BALANCE WILL RUN OUT, BUT THE COSTS WILL CONTINUE.

NOW I SAY THAT IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE.

YOU CAN DO IT.

YOU JUST HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.

ALL OF THIS IS HARD.

WE SEARCH FOR SUSTAINABILITY.

WE SEARCH FOR EQUITY.

WE SEARCH FOR FAIRNESS.

WE SEARCH FOR BALANCE.

IT'S A COMPLEX AND GIANT PUZZLE.

I PROMISE YOU THAT WE TRY TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN.

THAT'S NOT EVEN MENTIONING LEVIES OR BONDS.

WE ALL KNOW THAT WE NEED THOSE AND OUR DECISIONS ABOUT SPENDING AFFECT HOW OUR COMMUNITY WILL SUPPORT THOSE.

AND I KNOW WE ALL KNOW THAT.

I UNDERSTAND WE ARE AT A CROSSROADS.

WE ARE IN A TOUGH SPOT.

BUT I PROMISE YOU WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS.

WE ALWAYS DO.

IT'S THE BATTLE GROUND WAY.

IT'S WHO WE ARE.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIND A WAY TO MOVE FORWARD TO SERVE KIDS, FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY AND TO HONOR AND APPRECIATE THE WORK OF OUR STAFF.

I'M A QUOTE GUY.

MARTIN LUTHER KING AND I'M PARAPHRASING HERE BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO GENDER NEUTRAL IT.

MARTIN LUTHER KING SAID THE ULTIMATE MEASURE OF A PERSON IS NOT WHERE THEY STAND IN MOMENTS OF COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE, BUT WHERE THEY STAND AT TIMES OF CHALLENGE AND CONTROVERSY.

I GET IT. WE HAVE CHALLENGE AND CONTROVERSY.

NO DOUBT. I HOPE THAT EVEN IN THE FACE OF THAT ADVERSITY AND EVEN IN THE FACE OF DISAGREEMENT, THAT WE CAN STAND TOGETHER. THANK YOU FOR INDULGING ME.

MICHELLE. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE BUDGET OVERVIEW.

ALL RIGHT. SO THE BUDGET OVERVIEW IS THE OVERVIEW OF THIS PRESENTATION.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT PROCESS, STATE LEGISLATIVE ACTION, GENERAL FUND ASSUMPTIONS, ENROLLMENT REVENUE EXPENDITURES, STAFFING FUND BALANCE, SOME OF OUR OTHER FUNDS LIKE CAPITAL PROJECTS, ASB DEBT SERVICE, AND THEN WE'LL SPEND QUITE A BIT OF TIME ON OUR FOUR YEAR BUDGET PROJECTIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS AND FUND BALANCE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO COVER A LOT OF MATERIAL HERE.

MONITORING THE BUDGET AND BUDGET AND CONTACT INFORMATION AND THEN PUBLIC COMMENT.

SO LET'S START OUT WITH THE PROCESS.

BUDGETING REALLY IS HAPPENING ALL YEAR LONG.

WE'RE MONITORING ACTUAL FINANCES TO BUDGET AND ENROLLMENT TRENDS.

THE WE ALSO ARE MONITORING LEGISLATIVE ACTION AS WE KNOW, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR FUNDING SCHOOLS.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE IMPACT OF STATE FUNDING.

WE REVIEW STUDENT PROGRAM NEEDS.

[00:55:02]

STUDENT ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS START IN JANUARY, AND AS YOU KNOW, ENROLLMENT DRIVES FUNDING AND THEN STAFFING PROJECTIONS ARE ALSO BASED ON ENROLLMENT AND STUDENT PROGRAMS. WE HAVE CAPITAL FACILITY NEEDS REVIEWED FOR STUDENT GROWTH, AND SCHOOL BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS ARE INCLUDED AS WELL AS REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, FUND BALANCE, FORECASTS.

AND THEN WE DID PROVIDE A BUDGET WORK SESSION ON JULY 24TH.

AND SO JUST SO YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS NO CHANGE FROM THE JULY WORK SESSION AND THAT INFORMATION IS POSTED ON BOARD DOCS. IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT AS WELL, AS WELL AS THIS PRESENTATION WILL BE POSTED ON BOARD DOCS AS WELL AS OUR BUDGET PAGE.

IT IS DIFFICULT TO COMPARE BUDGETS.

OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WE'VE HAD A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES TO BUDGETING WITH ENROLLMENT, WE'VE HAD ENROLLMENT DECLINES, WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, ENROLLMENT, YOU KNOW, WE CUT, YOU KNOW, EXPENDITURES AND THEN WE GET ENROLLMENT STABILIZATION. SO THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF ROLLER COASTERING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON WITH THE PANDEMIC.

BUT WE'RE BACK NOW.

THERE IS NO ENROLLMENT STABILIZATION BEING PROVIDED IN 23-24, AND ESSER FUNDS WILL EXPIRE THIS YEAR.

SO LET'S KEEP GOING TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO LEGISLATIVE ACTION, JUST SOME MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS.

SPECIAL EDUCATION, INCREASED FUNDING.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW THAT ALL OF THE FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION THAT WE RECEIVED HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TO SPECIAL EDUCATION.

IN OTHER WORDS, ALL THE NORMAL LEVY FUNDS THAT WE WOULD USE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION ARE STILL BEING BUDGETED INTO SPECIAL EDUCATION.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO ALSO KNOW THAT ALL NEW STATE FUNDING IS ALLOCATED IN THIS BUDGET.

WE HAVE ALLOCATED ALL OF IT.

REGIONALIZATION EXPERIENCE FACTOR, THE 4% INCREASE FOR CERTIFICATED INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF.

THIS IS FUNDING TO MAKE UP THE SHORTFALL IN THE GENERAL APPORTIONMENT SALARY ALLOCATION FORMULA FOR FUNDED CERTIFICATED INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE OUR BATTLE GROUND STAFF ARE ABOVE THE STATE AVERAGE IN EXPERIENCE.

SO THIS FUNDING HELPS OFFSET THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ACTUAL BASE SALARIES THAT THE DISTRICT FUNDS AND THE FUNDING FROM THE STATE. SO AN EXAMPLE IS, AND I PROVIDED THIS IN OUR IN OUR BUDGET UPDATE IS WE ARE RECEIVING AN AVERAGE BASE SALARY OF $82,961 FROM THE STATE IN 23-24 AND THE AVERAGE SALARY WITH THE INCREASE AT THE TIME OF PROPOSAL TO BGA WAS $90,403.

SO WE'RE ALREADY AHEAD OF THAT.

SO THAT WAS WITH THE 6% INCREASE TO WAGES.

SO WE'RE ALREADY HAVE A GAP EVEN WITH THE ADDITIONAL 4% FROM THE STATE.

THE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FUNDING FOR K FOUR AS MEALS FOR STUDENTS WHEN THE SCHOOL IS LOW, POVERTY AT 40% IN 23-24 AND THEN IT PHASES IN TO 30% IN 24-25.

SO WE WILL USE FEDERAL AND DIRECTS TO SUPPORT ALL K FOUR STUDENTS WITH FREE MEALS STARTING IN 23-24 DURING THIS PHASE IN.

AND THEN TRANSITION TO KINDERGARTEN, THERE IS REVENUE NEUTRAL.

THERE'S NO THERE'S NO WIN HERE OTHER THAN WE DO KEEP TO KEEP GET TO KEEP THE PROGRAM.

IT IS MOVING FROM BASIC TO A CATEGORICALLY FUNDED PROGRAM.

SO THAT WAS A MAJOR CHANGE IN LEGISLATIVE ACTION.

ASSUMPTIONS. SO THE ASSUMPTIONS ARE THE F 195 DOCUMENT USES BUDGET COMPARISONS FOR 22-23 BUDGET.

BUT AS YOU KNOW, OUR ENROLLMENT CAME IN STRONG.

WE HAD BUDGETED CONSERVATIVELY.

WE DIDN'T KNOW WHO WOULD RETURN BACK.

WE WERE STILL IT WAS OUR YEAR OF STILL COMING BACK FROM PANDEMIC.

AND SO WE DID COME IN A LOT STRONGER THAN WHAT'S ON THE BUDGET.

SO WE DID ADJUST STAFFING FOR THAT.

AND THEN IT HAS THE 21-22 ACTUALS FINANCIAL YEAR END.

OUR DISTRICT FISCAL YEAR END IS AUGUST 31ST.

[01:00:01]

OUR STUDENT ENROLLMENT THE FULL TIME EQUIVALENT HAS FOR 22-23 HAS BEEN ROLLED FORWARD AND WE HAVE A 1.7% GROWTH THAT WE HAVE PROJECTED THAT'S ADDITIONAL 211 FTE.

SO WE ARE GROWING AND WE ARE ALSO BUDGETING ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM STAFFING AND SHIFTING AS NEEDED.

OUR STATE REVENUE INFLATIONARY INCREASE IS 3.7 IPD FOR BASIC EDUCATION SALARIES AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE FEDERAL OR ALE.

IT IS FOR THE BASIC EDUCATION AND THEN 3.1% FOR [INAUDIBLE] MATERIALS, SUPPLIES AND OPERATING COSTS.

AND THEN ALE FOLLOWS THE RUNNING START INCREASES.

AND SO RUNNING START WAS INCREASED 2.3%.

SO THAT WILL BE FOR THE ALE PROGRAM.

WORKING WITH AN IPD OF 3.7% IS VERY CHALLENGING, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ALSO HAVE SALARY NEEDS THAT ARE GREATER THAN 3.7%.

WE'VE INCLUDED 3.1% IS WHAT WE RECEIVED FROM MATERIALS, SUPPLIES AND OPERATING COSTS.

AND FROM THE 22-23 SCHOOL YEAR, THAT'S $552,859.

OUR INSURANCE ENVOYS ARE RISK INSURANCE INVOICE ALONE WENT UP $581,385. SO JUST FROM THAT ONE INVOICE, WE ARE NOW BEHIND $28,526.

OUR UTILITIES ARE PROJECTED TO GO UP FROM $3.4 MILLION TO $3.6 MILLION.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE PROBLEM WITH THE INCREASED COSTS OF MATERIALS, SUPPLIES AND OPERATING COSTS WITH A 3.1%.

SO WE HAVE CHALLENGES IN TAKING CARE OF JUST TURNING ON THE LIGHTS AND THE HEAT AND PAYING FOR OUR INSURANCE.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

ENROLLMENT. LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

SO IN THE 19-20 SCHOOL YEAR, THIS IS PRE-PANDEMIC, OUR ENROLLMENT WAS 12,917 FTE.

AND THEN AS YOU KNOW, THE ENROLLMENT DECLINED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND THE STATE STEPPED IN AND HELPED WITH ENROLLMENT STABILIZATION. AND THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL.

WE ALSO RECEIVED ESSER FUNDING TO HELP SUPPORT THE STUDENTS THAT WERE ATTENDING FOR LEARNING LOSS AND FOR ALL KINDS OF PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS. WE ARE STILL 548 FTE BELOW PRE-PANDEMIC LEVEL.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO AS DENNY MENTIONED, REVENUE $221,946,458 IS THE REVENUE.

75.4% OF THAT REVENUE IS STATE FUNDING, WHICH IS DRIVEN BY ENROLLMENT.

AND 13%, 13.1% IS COMING FROM LOCAL TAXES.

OUR FEDERAL SPECIAL PURPOSE IS 9.2, AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT INCLUDES $7 MILLION OF ESSER FUNDING.

THAT'S ONE TIME FUNDING ALONG WITH SOME OF THE INDIRECTS FROM THAT ESSER FUNDING AS WELL.

SO NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THE LOCAL TAXES THERE YOU CAN SEE IS $29 MILLION.

AND I WON'T GO THROUGH EACH OF THESE TOTALS, BUT YOU CAN SEE FROM THE TOTALS THAT THE TAXES AND STATE SUBTOTAL $196 MILLION IN TOTAL REVENUE.

NEXT SLIDE. EXPENDITURES ARE BUDGETED AT $232,163,835, 77.7% OF THE SALARIES OF THE EXPENDITURES ARE DEDICATED TO SALARIES AND BENEFITS.

AND THIS REALLY WOULD BE CLOSER TO 85% BECAUSE THE DISTRICT CONTRACTS FOR NUTRITION SERVICES AND TRANSPORTATION, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN PURCHASE SERVICES. AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE IN DEPTH ABOUT THESE.

SO IF YOU COULD MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE HERE.

OH, FIRST WE'LL TALK ABOUT ESSER REAL QUICK.

SO ESSER FUNDED FEDERAL GRANT EXPENDITURES, WHICH THERE IS REVENUE TO OFFSET THESE IS $7,044,217.

[01:05:13]

SO IT'S AN ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDING.

IT'S ONE TIME FEDERAL FUNDING THAT THE DISTRICT HAS HAD AND IT EXPIRES AGAIN IN 23-24.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THE THE FEDERAL THE ESSER FUNDING IS BEING USED FOR TWO THINGS HERE.

IT'S BEING USED FOR POST PANDEMIC FOR STUDENT LEARNING AND SUPPORTS OF $3.05 MILLION AND CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS.

SO THAT IS NORMAL OPERATIONS THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY BUDGET INTO WITH OUR REGULAR STATE AND LEVY FUNDING.

BUT BECAUSE THE DISTRICT HAD A SHORTFALL AND EXPENDITURES ARE GREATER THAN REVENUE, WE ARE USING ESSER FUNDS TO HELP COVER ONGOING OPERATIONS OF $3.95 MILLION.

NEXT SLIDE. SO AS YOU CAN SEE, THE EXPENDITURES BY OBJECT, YOU CAN SEE THAT ESSER HAS BEEN BROKEN OUT AND YOU CAN SEE THAT MOST OF THAT IS FOR SALARIES AND BENEFITS, THE MAJORITY OF IT IS.

SO YOU CAN SEE HOW THAT IS BEING USED TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND STAFFING.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.

AS YOU CAN TELL, THAT THAT IS QUITE HIGH, AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE $4.8 MILLION FOR CURRICULUM ADOPTIONS HAS BEEN BUDGETED, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE FOR THE 612 SCIENCE ADOPTION AND THE 912 SOCIAL STUDIES ADOPTION AND ALSO TO CONTINUE OUR ELA ADOPTION K-5 THAT WE STARTED AND OUR GRADES FIVE, SIX AND EIGHT SOCIAL STUDIES ADOPTIONS.

AND SO THOSE ARE THE ADOPTIONS THAT ARE PLANNED.

PURCHASE SERVICES, $15.9 MILLION OF THAT IS STUDENT TRANSPORTATION AND FOOD SERVICES.

AND THEN ALSO OUR RUNNING START IS INCLUDED IN THERE OF $2.7 MILLION.

SO THAT IS SOME OF THE HIGH LEVEL INFORMATION ON SOME OF THOSE CATEGORIES.

OUR EXPENDITURES BY ACTIVITY.

YOU CAN SEE THAT 94.5% ARE GOING TOWARDS TEACHING ACTIVITIES, TEACHING SUPPORT, TRANSPORTATION, MAINTENANCE GROUNDS, CUSTODIANS, UTILITIES, INSURANCE INFORMATION SYSTEMS, WAREHOUSE AND BUILDING OFFICES, OUR PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE AND BUILDING OFFICE STAFF.

5.5% OF THE BUDGET IS MADE UP FOR COMMUNICATIONS TO FAMILIES SUPPORT INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS, PROVIDE BUSINESS SERVICES, PAYROLL AND HUMAN RESOURCES, AS WELL AS DISTRICT BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT SUPPORT.

THIS IS TO SHOW THAT ALL OF THE [INAUDIBLE] FUNDING THAT IS BEING RECEIVED BY THE DISTRICT, $14.3 MILLION IS BEING ALLOCATED TO [INAUDIBLE].

SO WE HAVE A FORMULA AND ACTUALLY ESD ACTUALLY WORKS ON THIS SLIDE HERE WHERE THEY TAKE AND THEY TAKE FROM OUR SUPPLIES AND PURCHASE SERVICES, WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION OR FOOD SERVICE, TRAVEL CAPITAL OUTLAY FOR BASIC EDUCATION AND DISTRICT WIDE. AND WHAT YOU'LL SEE HERE IS, IS OUR [INAUDIBLE] EXPENDITURES ARE $24.6 MILLION.

SO $10 MILLION IS WHAT IS BEING USED FROM STATE, FROM FUND BALANCE AND LEVY IS GOING TO HELP SUPPORT THAT $10 MILLION THAT IS NOT COVERED BY STATE FUNDING.

STAFFING CHANGES.

WE HAVE INCREASED 52 FULL TIME EQUIVALENT CERTIFICATED EMPLOYEES SINCE 21-22, AND WE ARE BUDGETED

[01:10:09]

SO THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND CLASSIFIED.

THAT COULD BE CLOSER TO 28 PEOPLE, 30 PEOPLE WITH THAT 22.

SO OVER SINCE 21-22, WE'VE ADDED 87 CLASSIFIED.

AND THE QUESTION CAME UP AT OUR WORK SESSION ABOUT ENROLLMENT IS DOWN, BUT STAFFING IS UP.

AND THAT IS CORRECT.

WE ARE UP 81 CLASSIFIED FROM PRE-PANDEMIC BASED ON THE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS THAT I GAVE YOU, AS WELL AS OUR OUR CERTIFICATED STAFFING AND THE GOING BACK TO THE BUDGET DOCUMENTS AND LOOKING AT THE 19-20 AND CLASSIFIED 32.2 FTE CLASSROOM, 13.7 AND COUNSELING AND COUNSELING CAN ALSO INCLUDE THE SEL ROOMS THAT WE HAVE OPENED UP IN THE SCHOOLS 15.1 FTE AND MANAGEMENT AND SAFETY AND 5.6 IN HEALTH SERVICES AND PUBLIC.

AND THEN WE HAVE ONE IN PUBLIC RELATIONS AND TWO IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND CUSTODIAL.

SO AS YOU CAN TELL, WE HAVE INVESTED IN PEOPLE.

SO BUDGET SUMMARY.

OUR BUDGET SUMMARY IS, AS WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED, OUR EXPENDITURES ARE GREATER THAN REVENUE BY $10.5 MILLION.

OUR BEGINNING FUND BALANCE IS PROJECTED TO AND WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS.

WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH FUND BALANCE QUITE A BIT, ACTUALLY BEGINNING FUND BALANCE OF $37.1 MILLION.

THAT'S TOTAL WITH RESTRICTED FUND BALANCE AND ASSIGNED AND UNASSIGNED.

AND THEN OUR ENDING FUND BALANCE IS PROJECTED TO BE $26.6 MILLION.

AND BEFORE WE DIG INTO EACH OF THOSE CATEGORIES AND THOSE NUMBERS, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO REVIEW FUND BALANCE AND OUR FUND BALANCE POLICY AND LOOKING AT WHAT IS A APPROPRIATE FUND BALANCE AND WHY WE HAVE FUND BALANCE AND IT'S TO MAINTAIN A SUFFICIENT GENERAL FUND BALANCE FOR SOUND FINANCIAL PRACTICES AND PRUDENT AND PRUDENT.

AND IT'S AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO ESTABLISH A PRUDENT FUND BALANCE.

FUND BALANCE IS USED TO OBTAIN AN EXCELLENT BOND RATING, PROVIDE PROGRAM STABILITY, AND BOY, THAT'S BEEN IMPORTANT WITH ENROLLMENT. AND THEN ALSO TO HAVE A SUFFICIENT CASH FLOW TO MEET DISTRICT OBLIGATIONS, PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR SELF INSURANCE PROGRAMS, MAINTAIN WAREHOUSE INVENTORIES AND OTHER PREPAID ITEMS, AS WELL AS PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR FURNITURE, FUTURE FUTURE EQUIPMENT, CAPITAL AND TECHNOLOGY, WHICH THAT'S WHAT FUND BALANCE HAS BEEN BEING USED FOR.

ENROLLMENT FLUCTUATIONS, PROGRAMS RELYING UPON LOCAL LEVY.

IF WE DON'T PASS A LEVY, THE FUND BALANCE IS OUR SAFETY NET TO HELP US AT LEAST GET THROUGH SOME OF IT.

FINANCIAL IMPACTS OF LABOR AGREEMENTS, LOSSES OF STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS.

WHEN THE ESSER GRANT GOES AWAY, THAT'S $7 MILLION THAT WE WILL NEED TO ADJUST IN OUR BUDGET FOR 24-25 AND THEN AGAIN MAINTAINING A SUFFICIENT CASH FLOW.

NEXT SLIDE.

SO OUR PROCEDURE FOR FUND BALANCE POLICY 602 P IS TO MAINTAIN A 6% OF THE TOTAL FUND BALANCE THAT IS UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE MINIMUM FOR PER BOARD POLICY.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID DO IS I DID DO A LITTLE RESEARCH ON FUND BALANCES.

SO MOST DISTRICTS HAVE A FUND BALANCE POLICY.

AND WE DID LOOK AT OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT WERE SIMILAR TO THE SIZE OF BATTLE GROUND, AND WE SAW FUND BALANCE COMMITMENTS IN THEIR POLICIES OF ANYWHERE FROM 3 TO 5%.

WE HAD TWO AT 5%, ONE AT 8% AND ONE AT 8.33%.

[01:15:03]

SO THE FUND BALANCE RESERVES.

SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT YOU CAN SEE IN RED HERE, THOSE ARE RESTRICTED AND CANNOT BE USED TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.

SO THAT INCLUDES THINGS THAT WERE IN OUR POLICY INVENTORY, PREPAID ITEMS RESTRICTED FOR SELF-INSURANCE AND UNINSURED RISK AND THEN RESTRICTED OF CARRYOVER RESTRICTED REVENUES.

THAT INCLUDES ANY UNSPENT CTE FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVED, ANY FUNDS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED.

AND WE ARE HOLDING BECAUSE THOSE PROGRAMS REQUIRE THAT WE SPEND THOSE FOR THOSE PROGRAMS. THAT COULD BE SOME LAP FUNDING AS WELL.

THE NEXT DOWN IS THE ASSIGNED FOR TO OTHER PURPOSE.

SO AS WE RECEIVED ENROLLMENT STABILIZATION AND WE RESTRICTED IT INTO THIS NOT RESTRICTED EXCUSE ME, WE'VE ASSIGNED IT TO OTHER PURPOSES.

WE HAVE EARMARKED THOSE FUNDS AND THOSE FUNDS HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED FOR CURRICULUM ADOPTIONS, SEL INITIATIVES, CAPITAL REPAIRS. AND WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE WITH FUND BALANCE AND HOW WHAT WE'VE USED WITH THOSE.

SO THAT'S IN A IN A SLIDE COMING UP.

THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE IS THE RAINY DAY FUND AND THAT IS AND WE DID NOT PROJECT TO HAVE A RAINY DAY FUND AT THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR, BUT OUR ENROLLMENT CAME IN SO STRONG THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SET SOME OF THOSE ASIDE.

AND THOSE FUNDS ARE PROJECTED TO BE USED TO STABILIZE FROM THE LOSS OF ESSER FUNDS AND TO STABILIZE THE DISTRICT AS WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE IPD FROM THE STATE.

BUT YET WE HAVE EXPENDITURES AND INCREASES THAT ARE GREATER THAN THE IPD.

SO YOU CAN SEE THAT AT THE END OF THE 23-24 SCHOOL YEAR WE ARE PROJECTED TO HAVE ZERO IN THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE AND 3.1% IN THE ASSIGNED TO OTHER PURPOSE.

AND WE'LL GO THROUGH WHAT WE'RE USING THOSE FUNDS FOR.

SO WE'LL GO THROUGH THE $7 MILLION OF ASSIGN THAT WE'RE USING AND THE $4 MILLION OF UNASSIGNED.

AND THAT'S ON THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO THIS IS THE ASSIGNED PORTION OF THE FUND BALANCE WE ARE USING FOR CURRICULUM ADOPTION CATCH UPS.

AND SO WE HAVE $4.3 MILLION IS BEING USED.

WE HAVE SOME THAT WE ARE WE ASSIGN SOME OF OUR STATE FOREST FUNDS IN THERE AND THAT IS TO PROVIDE K-4 CLASSROOM SUPPLIES.

WE HAVE WE'VE INVESTED IN PUBLIC RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATION OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING TECHNOLOGY AND ONGOING OPERATIONS.

AND THAT'S SO THAT'S THE ONE TO REALLY NOTE THAT STANDS OUT IS WE DO NEED TO USE FUND BALANCE THAT THAT ASSIGNED TO SUPPORT ONGOING OPERATIONS.

THIS MEANS THAT THE EARMARKED FUNDS FOR THE 24-25 ADOPTIONS WILL NOT BE UNLESS THERE IS NEW REVENUE THAT WE RECEIVE, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROCEED WITH SOME OF THOSE ADOPTIONS THAT WE'VE THAT WE HAD EARMARKED THE FUNDS FOR.

SO WE DO NEED TO USE SOME OF THAT.

WE ARE ALSO USING THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE TO SUPPORT ONGOING OPERATIONS IN 23-24.

SO A TOTAL OF $5.45 MILLION OF FUND BALANCE WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT ONGOING OPERATIONS.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN USING FUND BALANCE TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND STAFF? SO THESE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES.

I AM SURE THERE'S A VERY LONG LIST AND I DID NOT GET IT ALL, BUT I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE HAVE BEEN INVESTING IN STUDENTS AND STAFF.

WE'VE BEEN INVESTING IN SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, MAJOR RENOVATIONS TO SCHOOL BUILDING ENTRIES FOR THE SAFETY AND OF STUDENTS AND STAFF.

THAT WAS $2.3 MILLION FOR ALL OF THOSE CONTRACTS, INTERCOM UPGRADES, HIGH SCHOOL WEIGHT ROOM AND TRACK RENOVATIONS, SUPPORTING

[01:20:09]

AND I'M SORRY, THAT'S ON THE WRONG LINE.

SHOULDN'T BE UNDER SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS BUT LEARNING SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING SUPPORTS MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN REPLACING OUTDATED CURRICULUM FOR STUDENTS.

BETWEEN 22-23 AND 23-24 WE HAVE $8.4 MILLION THAT WE HAVE BUDGETED FOR REPLACING OUTDATED CURRICULUM, CURRICULUM IS VERY EXPENSIVE.

AND THOSE ARE THE I'VE LISTED THE DIFFERENT CURRICULUMS THAT THOSE THAT $8.4 MILLION WOULD SUPPORT.

WHY HAS FUND BALANCE BEEN HIGHER THAN BUDGETED? I'VE HEARD THIS SEVERAL TIMES, AND I AND I DO UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.

IT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

AND SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT MANY TIMES WHEN WHEN THE PANDEMIC STARTED AND THE ENROLLMENT CAME IN, WE MADE EXPENDITURE REDUCTIONS WERE PUT INTO PLACE ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT WE WERE GOING TO GET ENROLLMENT STABILIZATION.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE ENROLLMENT STABILIZATION WAS COMING IN AFTER THE BUDGETS HAD BEEN COMPLETED.

ENROLLMENT BUDGETED CONSERVATIVE FOR 22-23.

WE DIDN'T KNOW WHO ALL WOULD COME BACK, SO WE ROLLED EVERYBODY UP AND ESTIMATED KINDERGARTEN.

WE CAME IN 485 FTE ABOVE BUDGET.

THAT'S ALMOST NOT QUITE $5 MILLION, RIGHT, IN FUNDING.

SO THE DISTRICT E, P AND O LEVY IN 20 AND 22-25, IT FAILED IN FEBRUARY OF 21.

AND SO WHEN WE CAME TO YOU WITH THE BUDGET PRESENTATION, 21-22, IT WAS WITHOUT A HALF A LEVY, $14 MILLION.

WE PASSED ON THE SECOND TRY IN NOVEMBER 21ST, AND WE HAD TO DO A BUDGET REVISION WHICH IS NOT POSTED ONLINE WITH OSPI. THEY DO NOT INCORPORATE IT INTO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THEY DO NOT HAVE THE AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT ALREADY, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.

AND SO AND THEN WE ALSO HAD SOME INCREASES TO LEVY SPECIFICALLY TO RETAIN INTO THE FUND BALANCE AND TRANSFER TO CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND TO PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO SCHOOLS.

AND THAT WAS A BOARD DIRECTIVE THAT HAPPENED IN [INAUDIBLE] THE YEARS THAT I HAVE LISTED.

AND THEN WE'VE ALSO USED FUND BALANCE BECAUSE OUR FUND BALANCE HAS BEEN HIGHER THAN BUDGETED BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD MANY UNFILLED BUDGETED CLASSIFIED CLASSROOM SUPPORT POSITIONS POST PANDEMIC.

YOU KNOW HOW MANY POSITIONS HAVE BEEN POSTED.

THANK GOODNESS THAT IT HAS GONE DOWN QUITE A BIT.

WE'RE DOING, I THINK, PRETTY WELL.

THEY HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL HIRING EVENT.

SO OTHER DISTRICT FUNDS WE HAVE WE HAVE OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, WE HAVE OUR DEBT SERVICE FUND AND WE HAVE OUR ASB FUNDS.

SO CAPITAL PROJECTS IS PRIMARILY IMPACT THE REVENUE THAT'S COMING IN THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE GENERAL FUND.

IT CAN ONLY BE USED TO ADD ADDITIONAL FACILITIES FOR UNHOUSED STUDENTS OR SCHOOL SUPPORT BUILDINGS AS WE HAVE GROWTH.

SO THAT'S NOT AVAILABLE AGAIN FOR THE TRANSFER.

THERE WAS A AND THEN ON THE DEBT SERVICE, THAT'S TO SERVICE OUR DEBT AND WE DO HAVE OUR VOTED DEBT IS EXPIRING IN THIS IN THIS BUDGET.

BUT WE DO HAVE A NON VOTED DEBT THAT DOESN'T EXPIRE UNTIL 12/24.

AND THERE WAS A QUESTION IN OUR LAST MEETING ABOUT WHAT THAT WAS FOR AND THAT WAS THE NON VOTED DEBT WAS FOR PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC FIELDS, SEWAGE TREATMENT, SCHOOL ACCESS AND PARKING IMPROVEMENTS, AS WELL AS FIRE ALARMS AND SECURITY SYSTEMS. FROM THE RESOLUTION, I WAS ABLE TO GLEAN THAT INFORMATION FROM FOR THE NON VOTED DEBT.

SO THAT WILL BE IN THE NEXT BUDGET AFTER THE 23-24 IT WILL PAY OFF.

SO. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FOUR YEAR PROJECTIONS FOR GENERAL FUND.

SO THESE ARE THE ASSUMPTIONS.

AND WE HAVE BUDGETED ENROLLMENT INCREASES FOR EACH YEAR.

WE HAVE A DEMOGRAPHER THAT WE WORKED WITH.

WE HAVE FOLLOWED HIS LEAD IN IN THE PROJECTIONS THAT HE'S GIVEN US.

AND SO WE ARE DOING THOSE, YOU KNOW, ONE YEAR IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A INCREASE AND THE NEXT YEAR WE SEE A BIGGER INCREASE.

SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT'S HAPPENING BASED ON ALL OF THE INFORMATION FROM THE DEMOGRAPHY REPORTS.

[01:25:04]

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THOSE FUNDING INCREASES WILL BE UNTIL CLOSER TO JANUARY OR FEBRUARY BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THE THEY DON'T GUARANTEE IT.

IT'S GOING TO BE BASED ON THE PREVIOUS CALENDAR YEAR.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS THE STATE DID CHANGE THAT THEY WILL DO IT BASED ON PRIOR YEARS SO THAT IT'S NOT A MYSTERY WHEN WE'RE BUDGETING AND WAITING FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION, WE WILL HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

SO THAT'S A REALLY GREAT IMPROVEMENT THAT THEY MADE TO STATE LAW ON THAT.

BUT THEY'RE NOT SET IN STONE.

SO THAT BUT WE'RE USING THEIR ASSUMPTIONS.

INCREASES HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO SALARIES AND BENEFITS AND MATERIAL SUPPLIES AND OPERATIONS.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE REDUCTION OF THE ESSER FUNDED PANDEMIC RESPONSE FUNDED STAFF AND PROGRAM.

SO THERE IS A REDUCTION OF EIGHT CERTIFICATED STAFF AND 14.7 CLASSIFIED STAFF THAT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC ESSER FUNDING THAT WE'VE BEEN USING.

SO THIS IS TO START TALKING ABOUT THE THE OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE DISTRICT MAY DENNY DID INDICATE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IS THAT WITH INFLATIONARY INCREASES COMING IN AT WHAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT AND EXPENDITURES GOING UP GREATER THAN OUR INCREASES, WE WILL HAVE TO TAKE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET THROUGH 26-27 UNLESS NEW REVENUE SOURCES ARE PROVIDED.

THE FIRST ONE IS REDUCTION OF PROGRAMS AND THAT IS $6.4 MILLION OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS THAT WE WILL NEED TO HAVE REDUCTIONS IN.

THE SECOND IS ELIMINATE $7 MILLION OF ESSER FUNDED PROGRAMS. AND AS YOU AS I INDICATED, 3.95 OF THOSE ARE FOR ONGOING OPERATIONS.

SO THAT'S A TOTAL REDUCTIONS, A BUDGET REDUCTION OF $13.4 MILLION OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, MOST OF IT IN 24-25. BUT IT DOES EXTEND OUT INTO 25-26 AND 26-27.

THE NEXT THING THAT WE'LL NEED TO DO, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A $23.5 MILLION PROBLEM OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, IS WE WILL NEED TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER REDUCING MINIMUM FUND BALANCE TO 3% AND THAT WILL ALLOW TO FREE UP $6.7 MILLION TO CONTINUE OPERATING THE DISTRICT AND CONTINUE OPERATING EXPENDITURES THAT WILL NEED TO HAPPEN IN 24-25 IN ORDER FOR US.

SO WE WILL BE BRINGING THAT BACK TO YOU FOR DISCUSSION AS WE ARE PREPARING THE 24-25 BUDGET AND LOOKING AT WHAT KIND OF REVENUE SOURCES WE WILL HAVE FOR THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR.

WE WILL HAVE TO ELIMINATE ASSIGNED FUND BALANCE RESERVES FOR PROGRAM COMMITMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE COMMITMENTS TO IN THE ASSIGNED FUND BALANCE OF $3.4 MILLION.

AND SO AGAIN, THIS INCLUDES THE 24-25 CURRICULUM ADOPTION.

SO THIS IS THE CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH OVER THE NEXT OUR FOUR YEAR PROJECTION OF BEING ABLE TO SUSTAIN OPERATIONS. BUT WE WILL HAVE REDUCTIONS THAT WE WILL NEED TO WE WILL NEED WITHOUT NEW REVENUE SOURCES.

AGAIN, ENROLLMENT INCREASES ARE INCLUDED IN THIS.

SO WHY IS THERE A FISCAL CLIFF? AND WE HAVE, AS DENNY INDICATED, WE HAVE RECEIVED ALMOST $40 MILLION OF FUNDING OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED.

WE RECEIVED $20.4 MILLION IN ESSER FUNDING AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A [INAUDIBLE] THAT IS NO LONGER GOING TO BE AVAILABLE AFTER THIS BUDGET CYCLE. 23-24 AND ENROLLMENT STABILIZATION, WE RECEIVED $17.6 MILLION IN FUNDING SINCE 2021.

AND THIS AGAIN WAS ONE TIME FUNDING THAT EXPIRED IN 22-23.

[01:30:02]

SO AGAIN, THAT IS WHY WE WE WILL BE SEEING OUR FISCAL CLIFF START IN 24-25.

OUR FOUR YEAR FUND BALANCE PROJECTIONS FOR BALANCING THE BUDGET INCLUDES, AS I ALREADY SAID, THERE WILL BE NO RAINY DAY FUND AND WE WOULD NEED TO REDUCE DOWN THE MINIMUM FUND BALANCE POLICY TO 3%.

AT THE END OF THE 26-27 SCHOOL YEAR THE PROJECTIONS IS TO HAVE A $3.9 MILLION OR 3.9% FUND BALANCE.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS NOT MUCH OF A RESERVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A SAFETY NET SHOULD WE HAVE ANY CHALLENGES WITH REVENUE SOURCES.

SO AGAIN, IN THE RED, IT'S NOT AVAILABLE TO BUDGET TO BALANCE THE BUDGET IS THE RESTRICTED .

THE ASSIGNED TO OTHER PURPOSE WE DO NEED TO KEEP SOME MONEY IN THERE BECAUSE WE MADE COMMITMENTS FOR CURRICULUM ADOPTIONS AND WE NEED TO SUSTAIN THOSE. AND THAT MONEY HAS BEEN EARMARKED AND WE CAN'T STOP A CURRICULUM ADOPTION FROM CONTINUING FORWARD.

THESE ARE SIX YEAR ADOPTIONS AND EVERY YEAR THEY REQUIRE USE OF RESERVES TO MAINTAIN THOSE ADOPTIONS.

WE HAVE THE RAINY DAY FUND, WHICH IS BEEN ELIMINATED AS OF 23-24.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE WE HAVE 3% IS RECOMMENDED.

WE NEED THAT FOR CASH FLOW FOR PAYMENTS WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR LEVY COLLECTIONS, O THERWISE WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE WARRANTS WITH INTEREST ON THEM.

SO AGAIN, WE NEED TO HAVE IT.

THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT ONE MONTH'S WORTH OF EXPENDITURES LIKE A LOT OF DISTRICTS HAVE LOOKED AT, WE WOULD NEED CLOSER TO $19 MILLION IN RESERVE JUST TO HAVE FOR ONE MONTH'S WORTH OF FUND BALANCE RESERVES.

SO THAT IS THE FOUR YEAR FUND BALANCE PROJECTION.

WE DO HAVE THE OTHER FUNDS THAT WE'VE ALSO DONE A FOUR YEAR PROJECTION ON.

CAPITAL PROJECTS IS GOING TO BE DETERMINED BASED ON FUNDING, AVAILABILITY AND NEED AND DEBT SERVICE AGAIN ARE NON VOTED BOND WILL EXPIRE IN 24 DECEMBER OF 24 AND THEN OUR ASP FUNDS, THEY ARE ANNUALLY PROJECTED AS WELL . AND DO KNOW THAT WE HAVE MONITORING TOOLS IN PLACE FOR THE BUDGET.

WE PROVIDE MONTHLY BUDGET STATUS REPORTS, WE HAVE THE STRATEGIC AND STUDENT WELL-BEING RECOVERY PLAN, MONITORING, MONTHLY ENROLLMENT REPORTS, LEGISLATIVE UPDATES, APPORTIONMENT, INTERNAL AUDITS BY BUSINESS OFFICE FINANCE STAFF.

WE HAVE AN AUDIT COMMITTEE MONTHLY.

WE HAVE STRONG FISCAL INTERNAL CONTROL ENVIRONMENT ANNUALLY REVIEWED BY THE STATE INDEPENDENT STATE AUDITORS AS WELL.

SO WE DO HAVE OUR ANNUAL AUDIT THAT IS ALSO REVIEWING OUR FINANCIALS.

THERE IS BUDGET INFORMATION AND THIS LINK DOES WORK TO OUR BUDGET PAGE.

AND SO THIS PRESENTATION, ALL OF OUR BUDGET DOCUMENTS WILL BE THERE, MY CONTACT INFORMATION IS INCLUDED AND WE WILL NOW BE WHEN THE BOARD IS READY, WE'LL BE READY TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

NOBODY SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.

OKAY.

I THINK WE CAN ALLOW THAT.

IT MAY NOT COME OUT TOO GOOD.

UH, TERRY TATE, RETIRED LAURIN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

UM, TIMER, THREE MINUTES.

YOU GOT TO HELP ME HERE BECAUSE I GOT TO STAY ON.

I WILL GO ON FOR AN HOUR.

OKAY. SO I CAME HERE TEN YEARS AGO AND I WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE I'M THE CHESS GUY, RIGHT?

[01:35:05]

AND I DISCOVERED THAT I COULDN'T HAVE A CHESS CLUB EVERY DAY IN MY CLASS.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE PRINCIPAL I RESPECTED GREATLY TOLD ME, WELL, YOU CAN ONLY DO IT 36 DAYS A YEAR, TWO DAYS A WEEK FOR SIX WEEKS, THREE TIMES 36 DAYS.

I CAN ONLY HAVE CHESS CLUB IN MY CLASS.

THIS ISN'T GOING TO WORK.

NO SPORTS IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL I CAME FROM A MIDDLE SCHOOL, HAD ALL KINDS OF SPORTS.

OKAY? SO I WAS REAL DISAPPOINTED AND I WAS PERSISTENT, AND COVID SLOWED US DOWN AND OTHER OTHER, YOU KNOW, OTHER PRIORITIES SLOWED US DOWN.

BUT WE HAVE MADE GREAT PROGRESS.

AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME FUN CHESS ACTIVITIES THIS YEAR.

SO I'M SITTING HERE LISTENING TO ALL OF THIS AND I'M THINKING HOW BAD BUDGETS ARE AND MONEY WOULD HAVE SOLVED MY CHESS PROBLEM.

YOU GUYS WOULD HAVE JUST THROWN MONEY AT IT.

WE COULD HAVE HAD CHESS ALL THE TIME, BUT THEY WOULDN'T DO THAT.

OKAY I FIND AT HOME I HAVE TO TO WORK OUT WITH MY WIFE AND MY FAMILY.

GUESS WHAT? WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BUY THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THIS AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO POSTPONE THAT.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT BUDGETING IS ALL ABOUT.

WE ALL KNOW THAT.

OKAY. AND SO AS I'M SITTING HERE LISTENING, I'M THINKING, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'VE HAD SOME DIFFICULT TIMES.

I REMEMBER A YEAR WHERE IT WAS A DISASTER AND THE TEACHERS FORGOED.

IS THAT THE RIGHT WORD? COST OF LIVING RAISE TO HELP OUT? I THINK IT WAS 2008.

AND GUESS WHAT? THAT TURNED OUT TO BE A REALLY BAD DECISION BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET A COST OF LIVING RAISE FOR YEARS.

THE STATE ENDED UP HAVING TO GO TO COURT AND THE STATE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF NOT PUTTING THE MONEY WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO PUT IT.

SO IT LEAVES A BAD TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH.

BUT I THINK TODAY WE'RE AT A DIFFERENT PLACE.

THESE ARE REALLY DIFFICULT TIMES BECAUSE OF INFLATION.

WE ARE ALL HURTING.

IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS ARE STRETCHING US, LIKE TO THE BURSTING POINT.

SO I'M NOT JUST SPEAKING TO YOU GUYS.

I'M SPEAKING TO ALL OF US.

THIS MAY BE A DAY WHERE WE NEED TO REALLY CONSIDER THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO KIND OF WORK A LITTLE BIT MORE TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS, BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT WE'RE IN A BAD STATE WITH THIS CLIFF, WALKING OFF OF THIS CLIFF WITH OUR BUDGET.

SO MAYBE TODAY IS A DAY WHERE WE SHOULD REFLECT ON THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A HISTORY.

I THINK, IN MY OPINION, IN THESE TEN YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, HOW MUCH TIME HAVE I GOT? MY TIME IS UP THAT WAS THREE MINUTES.

OKAY. WE WE HAVE A HISTORY OF HAVING LEADERSHIP THAT HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD TRUST THEM A LITTLE MORE THAN WE MIGHT WANT. OKAY, MAYBE WE NEED TO KIND OF FOREGO SOME STUFF, AND MAYBE ALL OF US WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MADE CHESS WORK FOR ME.

I HAD TO WORK IN THE SYSTEM AND NOW IT'S WORKING, YOU KNOW? SO MAYBE THIS YEAR IN IN ALL OF THESE NEGOTIATIONS, MAYBE IT'S TIME TO LOCK ARMS TOGETHER AND MAYBE FOLLOW OUR HEARTS AND RISK, RISK IT AND MOVE FORWARD, YOU KNOW, WITH SCHOOL AND WHAT'S BEST FOR THE KIDS.

I DIDN'T GET TO SAY IT ALL.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO DIDN'T GET THE CHANCE TO SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD NOW? OKAY. SO THAT LEAVE IT FOR THE BOARD TO ASK THEIR QUESTIONS.

YEAH, GREAT. I WOULDN'T MIND STARTING.

GO AHEAD, MICHELLE.

I'M NOT ON OUR BOND RATE.

IS THERE LIKE A MAGIC NUMBER IN TERMS OF FUND BALANCE PERCENT THAT THEY LOOK AT FOR OUR BOND RATING, OR IS IT MORE A TREND OF WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH YOUR FUND BALANCE OVER TIME? IT'S MORE A TREND IS WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT.

AND ARE YOU MEETING YOUR FUND BALANCE POLICY? OKAY. MEETING YOUR POLICY.

YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING RIGHT.

DO YOU FOLLOW UP FOLLOWING YOUR FUND BALANCE POLICY AND THE TRENDS OF HOW YOU'RE USING THAT? AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN EXPLAIN THAT AND THEN YOU JUST HOPE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND.

AND WHERE IS OUR CURRENT BOND RATING? I'M NOT QUITE SURE.

IT'S BEEN QUITE A LONG TIME SINCE WE HAVE GONE FOR A BOND.

THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO AND WE WOULD HAVE TO GO OUT AND HAVE A NEW BOND RATING.

YEAH, THAT WOULD I WOULD PERSONALLY LIKE TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

YEAH. YEAH. OKAY.

[01:40:01]

CORRECT. THE NUMBERS FOR FTE ARE YOU STATED THAT THEY'RE DEPENDENT OR PROJECTED FROM THE DEMOGRAPHY STUDY. WHAT'S THE CONFIDENCE LEVEL IN THOSE STUDIES? WELL, WE'LL ANALYZE IT EVERY YEAR AND WE WILL WATCH IT AS WE CONTINUE.

BUT THEY LOOKED AT I MEAN, WE HAD A 20 PAGE REPORT.

WE HAD RESIDENTIAL BUILDING, ALL OF THE PERMITS THAT HAD BEEN ISSUED.

WE HAD BIRTH RATES.

SO WE CAN BE PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT THEY HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF LOOKING AT STATISTICALLY ALL THE INFORMATION, THE THINGS THAT THEY CANNOT PROJECT ARE THINGS THAT ARE OUT OF THE CONTROL OF THE NORMAL PROJECTIONS OF BIRTH RATES AND RESIDENTIAL.

SO POLICY IMPACTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE THINGS THAT THEY CANNOT PROJECT.

SO DIFFERENT THINGS AFFECT ENROLLMENT, AS WE FOUND OUT, LIKE 2020, THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

SO I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING AT, IS THAT WHILE WE SIT AND MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS ON MANY FRONTS, REVENUE AND COST, MY CONCERN IS THAT IT'S PIE IN THE SKY AT THIS POINT, RIGHT? IT'S A PROJECTION.

BEST WE CAN DO, I GET IT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A HEAVY DECISION TO MAKE.

AND IF I ALSO UNDERSTAND THIS CORRECTLY, THESE COST NUMBERS ARE ONLY INCLUSIVE OF THE PROJECTIONS AND SALARY INCREASES AT THE TIME THAT WE CONSTRUCTED THIS, WHICH WAS PRE JULY ISH TIME FRAME, WHICH IS NOT WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY PROPOSING, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. SO I'D BE CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT THESE NUMBERS WOULD CHANGE TO GIVEN THE CURRENT STATUS OF NEGOTIATIONS AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE FUND BALANCE GOING FORWARD.

WE DID HAVE WE DID HAVE SOME SOME INCREASES IN THERE THAT AT THE TIME AND THEN WE DID INCREASE IT.

OUR 23-24 WAS BASED ON OUR PROPOSAL IN JULY.

YES. AND SO IF WE WERE AT 6% WHEN WE FORMED THIS BUDGET AND WE'RE AT $8.75 NOW, IT'S APPROXIMATELY $2.75 MILLION, CORRECT? CORRECT. NOW, WE HAVE BUILT IN SOME INTO 24-25 TO HELP WITH SOME OF THAT WITH SOME OF THAT $2.75.

WE HAVE BUILT SOME OF THAT INTO THE INTO THE 24-25 THAT IT'S GOING TO ALSO BE THERE AS WELL.

BUT BUT IT IS NOT IN THE 23-24.

SO THE RESOLUTION THAT WILL BE COMING UP FOR YOUR FOR YOUR APPROVAL IS FOR LOCKING IN THE 23-24 EXPENDITURE AUTHORIZATION, THE FOUR YEAR PROJECTIONS, THEY MAY CHANGE AND THEY THEY VERY WELL MAY CHANGE DEPENDING ON WHAT WE SEE WITH ENROLLMENT AND WITH STATE FUNDING AND ALL THOSE THINGS.

THOSE ARE IT'S JUST THE BEST INFORMATION WE HAVE AT THIS TIME TO TO GET THOSE.

THOSE ARE NOT EACH YEAR YOU'LL HAVE A NEW BUDGET PRESENTATION LIKE THE ONE YOU'RE HAVING NOW.

SO BUT WE ARE HAVE PUT IN THE SALARY INCREASES TO THE INFORMATION WE HAD AT THE TIME IN JULY FOR THE MOST PART.

YEAH. YEAH. I GET THAT I YEAH, YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF WORK AND I COULDN'T ASK FOR ANYTHING BETTER.

I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF THAT WAS INCLUSIVE OF THAT.

UM, AND THEN AGAIN, BACK TO THE QUESTION OF THE FUND BALANCE.

I GET CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THINGS LIKE, LIKE GO BACK TO LIKE THE SECURITY UPGRADES THAT WE DID ON ALL THE BUILDINGS.

WE DID THAT IN RESPONSE TO NATIONAL EVENTS.

YOU KNOW, BUILDINGS NEEDED IT ANY WAY, BUT THEN THERE BECAME A HIGHER PRIORITY AT THAT TIME.

SO THOSE GET FUNDED IN THAT WAY.

AND IF WE START DRAWING FROM THAT SIGNIFICANTLY, THEN THERE'S NOTHING LEFT.

AND IF WE START APPROVING TO GO TO LOWER FUNDS, IN MY MIND IT JUST FEELS LIKE WE'RE PRINTING MONEY IN THAT CASE, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER TO

[01:45:03]

SO I JUST IT MAKES ME NERVOUS AND THAT'S WHY I'M VOCALIZING THAT NOW.

BUT THANK YOU.

I KIND OF HAD A QUESTION.

SO FOR THE FOUR YEAR FORECAST, IT WAS KIND OF LIKE THE RAINY DAY FUND IS KIND OF PROJECTED TO BE ELIMINATED.

SO IT'S JUST KIND OF LIKE A I MEAN, OKAY, I'M A STUDENT, SO MONEY ISN'T FUN.

I'VE ALREADY ASKED MANY QUESTIONS.

BUT LIKE WHEN IT COMES TO THE RAINY DAY FUND, YOU SAID THAT YOU'VE LOOKED AT OTHER DISTRICTS OF SIMILAR SIZE AND COMPARED THEIR BUDGET TO OURS. WHAT IS LIKE KIND OF LIKE THE AVERAGE RAINY DAY FUND? AND LIKE WITH ELIMINATING IT, IS THAT KIND OF LIKE A CAUSE FOR CONCERN THAT WE SHOULD TRY TO LIKE BRING BACK IN THE FUTURE? LIKE, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY NOT IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS CONSIDERING WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING SOME HARD BUDGET DECISIONS.

BUT LIKE WITH IT BEING ELIMINATED, IS THAT A CAUSE FOR CONCERN? AND DO OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE LIKE, HAVE THEY HAD TO MAKE SIMILAR DECISIONS OR DO THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE? YEAH, SO THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, FUND BALANCE IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S DISTRICT DEPENDENT ON THEIR NEEDS AND WHAT THEIR PRIOR, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY'RE ABLE TO A CURRICULUM ADOPTION IS VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE AND IT CAN'T BE DONE IN JUST WITH YOUR REGULAR NORMAL BUDGET.

YOU HAVE TO SAVE UP FOR THOSE THINGS.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE HAD OUR CURRICULUM ADOPTIONS HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, WAY PAST OUR LIFE EXPECTANCY FOR. AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO USE SOME OF THOSE FUNDS, THE ASSIGNED FUNDS, AND THEN ALSO TO SUPPORT ONGOING OPERATIONS.

BUT WITHOUT THAT RAINY DAY FUND, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HELP SUPPORT THE 23-24 SCHOOL YEAR.

I DID NOT REALLY DO AN ANALYSIS OF THE RAINY DAY FUNDS FOR OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

MY ANALYSIS WAS MORE DONE ON THE THE COMMITMENT, THE FUND BALANCE, COMMITMENT FOR FUND BALANCE POLICY.

THAT'S WHERE I LOOKED AT.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU PROBABLY WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE RAINY DAY FUNDS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT THE ONLY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THIS FISCAL CLIFF.

IT'S ACROSS THE NATION.

IT'S ACROSS THE WASHINGTON STATE.

IT HAS TO DO WITH A LOT OF STABILIZATION MONEY THAT HAS COME IN AND IT IS NOW EXPIRING.

AND SO WE HAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALL ACROSS THAT ARE ALL FEELING THIS.

AND I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THEIR RAINY DAY FUNDS HAVE BEEN DEPLETED OR ARE BEING DEPLETED AS WELL SO.

OKAY. WOULDN'T IT BE NICE WITH ALL THE STABILIZATION MONEY THAT THEY GAVE US WHEN TIMES GOT TOUGH THAT THEY JUST RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S A NEED AND JUST FUND US COMPLETELY TO BEGIN WITH.

SORRY.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE FOR OSPI AND ADVOCATED STRONGLY FOR INCREASED SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR OUR FOR CLASSIFIED AND CERTIFICATED STAFF.

THERE IS A GREAT NEED OUT THERE AND IT IS AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT AS THE STATE BUDGET IS DONE EVERY YEAR.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR INCREASED FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS.

THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION.

I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE TWO, PROBABLY MORE FOR YOU DENNY THAN MICHELLE.

JUST FOR MY OWN CLARIFICATION.

SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS FISCAL CLIFF AND I THINK ABOUT US HITTING A WALL AND I THINK ABOUT 78% OF OUR BUDGET IS SALARIES AND BENEFITS, WHICH MEANS IF WE HIT THIS CLIFF, THAT'S GOT TO DECREASE.

RIGHT? WHICH IN MY MIND GOES TO RIFFS IN THE SPRING AND PEOPLE START LOSING JOBS, WHICH IMPACTS OUR STUDENTS AND IT IMPACTS OUR CLASS SIZE IS MY GUESS.

AND I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF YOU COULD MAYBE ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE BIGGER PICTURE OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR THIS SPRING.

AND I SO SO I THINK YOU'VE MADE A GOOD POINT 78% IS SALARIES AND BENEFITS.

YOU ALSO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A BIG CHUNK IN THERE, ALMOST 7% THAT IS CONTRACTED SERVICES LIKE OUR FOOD SERVICE AND OUR TRANSPORTATION.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET RID OF THOSE.

IS THAT IN ADDITION TO THE 78 OR?

[01:50:01]

SO THAT BRINGS IT UP TO 85, LIKE THEN AND THEN AND THEN YOU HAVE LIKE UTILITIES AND YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T ELIMINATE THOSE.

THERE'S A VERY THERE'S A VERY SMALL AREA WHERE YOU COULD REALLY TALK ABOUT ELIMINATING.

BUT IN THAT SENSE, YOU'RE STARTING TO ELIMINATE PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU CAN ELIMINATE MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS.

YOU COULD YOU COULD ELIMINATE ELECTIVE CLASSES, YOU CAN ELIMINATE SOME OF THOSE.

SO SO YOUR POINT IS RIGHT.

TYPICALLY, WHEN WE ARE LOOKING FOR SAVINGS, WE ARE ELIMINATING POSITIONS AND POSITIONS TRANSLATE INTO PEOPLE.

SOME OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE JUST RECENTLY IN THE LAST THREE YEARS SAY SEL ROOMS. ALL OF THEM HAVE, SEA ATTENDANCE, PARAS IN THEM.

THAT'S A BIG STAFF COMMITMENT.

SECURITY AT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS CAMPUSES, ALL OF THEM NOW HAVE SECURITY GRAD COACHES AT OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, ONE FOR EACH GRADE LEVEL.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU THINK OF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ELIMINATE YOU'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO YOUR BEST AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ELIMINATE CLASSROOM TEACHERS BECAUSE CLASSROOM TEACHERS ARE DEPENDENT ON ENROLLMENT.

SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR CLASSROOM TEACHERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE THERE, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR THOSE ALTERNATIVE THINGS.

YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK IN EVERY CATEGORY.

YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT ADMINISTRATION.

YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK TO REDUCE.

AND I DON'T WANT TO SCARE ANYBODY.

YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT DEANS OF STUDENTS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS.

YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT DISTRICT OFFICE, YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT DIRECTORS AND NOT FILLING POSITIONS.

YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT TOSA'S TEACHERS ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT.

YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES.

OR YOU JUST LOOK AT THE CUTS THAT EVERGREEN DISTRICT MADE COMPARATIVE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME THING, RIGHT? SO YOU'RE RIGHT. IT DOES.

IT DOES COME DOWN TO PEOPLE, UNFORTUNATELY.

WELL, THERE'S A BALANCE, RIGHT? FOR YEARS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WE DIDN'T PURCHASE CURRICULUM.

RIGHT. SO WE MADE CUTS THERE.

AND WE WILL YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S AN AREA THAT YOU CAN SAVE.

YOU KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, THIS YEAR WE PLAN TO SPEND $4 MILLION.

IT'S JUST A LITTLE OVER $4 MILLION.

AND IT'S 612 SCIENCE IS THE BIG PURCHASE 612 SCIENCE AND ALSO HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES. IT SEEMS LIKE WE JUST DID HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES, BUT IT'S A SIX YEAR CYCLE.

SO WE'RE BACK TO HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES AGAIN.

NEXT YEAR, I BELIEVE, IS SUPPOSED TO BE HIGH SCHOOL MATH AGAIN.

AND SOMETHING ELSE I SORRY, I DON'T REMEMBER RIGHT OFF THE BAT, BUT BUT WE ARE FUNDING THE SCIENCE.

BUT NEXT YEAR, THE YEAR AFTER, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FUND THE MATH.

WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE MONEY. I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT WITH CURRICULUM IS TIMES HAVE CHANGED.

SO WHEN WE HAD THE 20 YEARS, 20 PLUS YEARS WITH LANGUAGE LIT FOR ALL OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS THAT WE JUST REPLACED WITH LIT 360, WE'VE GONE TO AN ONLINE RESOURCE.

THE ONLINE RESOURCE IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF YEARS AND IT HAS AN ONGOING SUBSCRIPTION COST TO IT.

IF WE DON'T GET THAT CURRICULUM, WE HAVE NOTHING.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE, OH, YOU CAN PULL OUT YOUR OLD BASAL READER AND STILL GET BY.

THERE'S NO GETTING BY NOW THEY TURN OFF THE SERVER SO YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE WORKBOOKS AND THE WORKSHEETS AND THE RESOURCES AND ALL OF THAT.

THAT KIND OF PARTIALLY ANSWERS A QUESTION I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK IS THAT IF WE WERE TO TRY TO HELP AVOID ANY LAYOFFS OF ANY KIND AND SACRIFICE A CURRICULUM EXPENDITURE NOW IN THE CURRENT BUDGET, WHAT IMPACT WOULD THAT HAVE ON THE STUDENT BODY, THE SEL PORTION? KIND OF TURNING MY HEAD OUT THERE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY SCIENCE TEACHERS OUT THERE.

I KNOW THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.

RIGHT. ISN'T IT LIKE 20 ISN'T IT LIKE 20 YEARS.

YEAH, RIGHT. IT'S ALMOST LIKE EQUIVALENT TO OUR ELA TEACHERS, ELA TEACHERS ARE STANDING THERE GOING, THANK GOD WE GOT THAT ELA CURRICULUM AND SCIENCE IS THE NEXT UP ON THE BAT.

AND LIKE I SAID, THAT'S BUT ULTIMATELY IT GOES BACK TO LIKE THE CONVERSATION OR THE COMMENTS MR. TATE HAD IS YOU GOT TO MAKE A DECISION, RIGHT?

[01:55:02]

SO ARE WE GOING TO PURCHASE AND REPLACE A 20 YEAR OLD CURRICULUM OR ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO LAY OFF PEOPLE? RIGHT. YOU GOT TO PICK YOUR POISON, RIGHT.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, I THINK AS WE'VE DONE THE BUDGET FORECAST, WE WOULD BE GOOD TO GO THIS YEAR.

WE WOULD USE A CHUNK AND WE WOULD BE GOOD TO GO.

YOU KNOW, WE'D HAVE TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS NEXT YEAR.

AND OUR EMPHASIS WOULD BE ON SAVING PEOPLE.

IS THAT JUST KICKING THE CAN, THE PROVERBIAL CAN DOWN THE ROAD.

AND YOU'RE HOPING, YOU KNOW, YOU GET TO A NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THEY'RE GOING TO BRING IN MONEY.

YOU'RE HOPING YOUR ENROLLMENT CONTINUES TO INCLINE, YOU'RE TIGHTENING YOUR BELT IN OTHER AREAS.

YOU'RE REDUCING, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE DOING A LITTLE OF THIS, YOU'RE DOING A LITTLE OF THAT AND A LITTLE BIT OF THIS.

YEAH, THAT'S THE NATURE OF THE BEAST.

GO AHEAD. THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION.

IT GOT ME CURIOUS. SO SINCE WE'RE APPLYING FOR OUR EFFECTIVE SCHOOL BOARD DEAL, THE STANDARDS FOR THE WASHINGTON STATE SCHOOL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION IS FOR BOARDS AND DISTRICTS TO MAINTAIN A FUND BALANCE BETWEEN 5 AND 10%.

SO OUR DISTRICT POLICY OF 6% IS ACTUALLY ON THE LOW END OF THAT RECOMMENDATION.

THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTION.

THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

SORRY I RAMBLED A LITTLE BIT.

NO, IT'S JUST OKAY.

I JUST DON'T LIKE I DON'T LIKE PEOPLE BEING A SACRIFICE.

I NEVER HAVE. AND IF WE CAN AVOID IT.

[INAUDIBLE] I AGREE WITH MR. TATE. TIGHTEN THE PURSE STRINGS NOW.

SO NOT THAT HE USED THOSE WORDS, BUT.

THE ONE THING I WILL SAY ABOUT THIS DISTRICT, THOUGH, IS THAT WE CAN ALWAYS PUT A LITTLE BIT AWAY SOMEHOW. RIGHT? OUR BUDGETS ARE CONSERVATIVE.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

WE DON'T OVER PREDICT.

WE DON'T OVERSPEND.

WE DON'T WE'RE NOT FRIVOLOUS IN ANY WAY.

SO THAT'S NICE.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? HEARING NONE, WE WILL ADJOURN THIS PORTION OF THE BUDGET HEARING.

[12. Call to Order]

THANK YOU. WE WILL RESUME OUR REGULAR MEETING AT 7:57.

I WAS SO EXCITED TO GET TO THE BUDGET HEARING THAT I SKIPPED RIGHT OVER OLD BUSINESS.

THANKFULLY, THERE WAS NONE.

SO NO HARM, NO FOUL.

[13. New Business (Board Vote w/Student Voice)]

THE REQUEST IS IS THAT WE'VE AND TO LET YOU KNOW WE HAVE ADVERTISED IN THE NEWSPAPER OF LOCAL CIRCULATION.

WE HAVE HAD A PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING AND RECEIVED PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE ARE REQUESTING THAT YOU PLEASE APPROVE RESOLUTION E -23 THE 2023-24 BUDGET.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MICHELLE? I'LL MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVE RESOLUTION E-23 ADOPTION OF THE 2023-24 BUDGET.

ALL RIGHT, THEN WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE THE BUDGET.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD COMMENTS? I ACTUALLY DO. I'M SORRY.

I HAVE ONE QUESTION. I KNOW THAT'S OUT OF CHARACTER, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE APPROVE THIS BUDGET, IF THE IF THE COSTS CHANGE DUE TO NEGOTIATIONS, IS THAT GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO THIS VOTE OR DOES THAT AUTOMATICALLY UPDATE? SO THE RESOLUTION IS THE GIVING THE EXPENDITURE AUTHORITY FOR THE BOARD.

IF WE EXCEED THOSE EXPENDITURE AUTHORITY AND WE DO NEED TO GO ABOVE THAT, WE WILL NEED TO COME BACK FOR A BUDGET EXTENSION TO INCREASE THE BUDGET.

SO THE BUDGET DOES HAVE SOME CONTINGENCY BUILT INTO IT, BUT THAT IS THAT IS FUND BALANCE NEUTRAL, RIGHT?

[02:00:03]

SO IF WE WERE TO GO PAST OUR [INAUDIBLE] THE THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS THAT WE HAVE BUDGETED, WHAT THAT WOULD DO IS WE WOULD HAVE SOME CAPACITY IN THERE, A LITTLE BIT OF CAPACITY TO DO THAT, BUT IT WOULD REDUCE OUR FUND BALANCE DOWN.

OKAY, SO YOU'LL BE DRAWING MORE FROM THE FUND BALANCE, BUT YOU WOULDN'T NEED TO COME BACK TO GET AN EXTENSION.

POSSIBLY, YEAH.

STILL HAVE TO GET APPROVAL FROM THE BOARD.

YEAH. YEAH.

OKAY. SORRY. IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE BECAUSE IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE UNTIL THE SPRING OR SOMETHING.

RIGHT. OKAY.

THANK YOU. I APOLOGIZE.

GOOD QUESTION. DO WE HAVE AN ADVISORY VOTE FROM OUR STUDENTS? PRO. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS. HEARING NONE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES 4 TO 0.

THANK YOU. OUR SECOND ORDER OF NEW BUSINESS IS THE REVISION OF POLICY 4200 SAFE AND ORDERLY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

THIS POLICY BOARD IS MAINLY A RETITLE OF POLICY.

WHILE OUR POLICY AND PROCEDURE DID NOT MATCH IN TITLE, IT WAS SAFE AND ORDERLY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE POLICY AND VISITORS FOR THE PROCEDURE.

WSSDA CAME WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF ADDING TO THE TITLE PARENT ACCESS AND SAFE AND ORDERLY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

AND THEN FOR THE MOST PART, THE CHANGES ARE THERE WAS A PARAGRAPH ABOUT WHAT IS THE DISRUPTION OF THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.

THEY PUT THAT INTO A BULLETED LIST.

SO IT WAS MUCH EASIER TO READ AND UNDERSTAND.

AND THEN THERE WERE THE TYPICAL CHANGES WE'VE SEEN AS OF LATE, A LOT OF SHELLS BEING CHANGED TO WILLS, AND OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S REALLY DEFINING PARENT ACCESS OF THEIR CHILDREN'S CLASSROOM AND THE WAY IN WHICH THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN SO THAT IT MARKS HOW WE LET OUR TEACHERS KNOW THAT THEY WANT THAT PARENTS WANT ACCESS OR WANT TO BE ABLE TO BE IN THERE, HOW THEY CAN ACCESS TEACHING MATERIALS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS FOR A FOR AN OBSERVATION.

SO IT JUST CHANGES THE WAY IN WHICH THEY ACCESS.

SO MAINLY REVISION OF FORMATTING MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, CONTENT REALLY DID NOT CHANGE.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? WHY DID THE SHELLS TURN INTO WILLS? BECAUSE THEY MEAN THE SAME THING, ESPECIALLY TO A LAWYER.

LIKE THEY MEAN THE SAME THING.

IS IT JUST CLEARER? WELL, IT WASN'T WE DIDN'T DO IT.

I WASN'T BLAMING YOU.

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE BLAMING ME.

YEAH, WE'VE MADE POLICY CHANGES.

WE'VE DONE IT. BUT WE'VE KIND OF SHRUGGED AS TO THE REASON WHY.

YEAH, THAT'S INTERESTING, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE SAME IMPORT AND MEANING TO ME WHEN I READ IT.

YEAH. I BROUGHT THIS UP IN BOARD DOC AND I'M JUST COMING BACK TO IT AGAIN AND TRYING TO THINK OF THOSE EXCEPTIONS.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE SOME OF OUR HOMELESS KID POPULATIONS THAT AREN'T LIVING WITH THEIR PARENT OR GUARDIAN BUT WHOEVER THEY'RE WITH IS, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO KEEP TABS ON THEM AND HELP THEM OUT.

THOSE ARE SOME OF OUR HIGHEST NEED CASES.

DOES THIS POLICY STILL ALLOW FOR THAT, DO YOU THINK? THE LANGUAGE.

ABSOLUTELY. I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT THE REASON THAT THEY CHANGED THE TITLE TO PARENT ACCESS IS BECAUSE THERE'S THIS MOVEMENT OUT THERE THAT SAYS WE'RE TRYING TO LIMIT PARENTS ACCESS TO THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT, WHICH HASN'T BEEN TRUE AND REMAINS TO NOT BE TRUE.

BUT IT'S CALLING IT OUT THAT THERE IS A WAY IN WHICH TO DO THAT.

AND SO I BELIEVE IT'S REALLY JUST TO CALL IT OUT THAT PARENTS, YOU HAVE ACCESS AND HERE IT IS, HERE'S HOW YOU DO IT.

SO SO IT'S IT'S MORE OF A FORWARD FACING AND NON TRADITIONAL FAMILY SETTINGS TRYING TO SURVIVE IN A SCHOOL SYSTEM AND YOU'LL SEE THEY CAN HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ADULT WE REFERENCE WE REFERENCE THAT IN OUR POLICIES REGARDING HOMELESS AND IT ALSO SAYS UNDER THE VISITORS PORTION OF THE OF THE POLICY PARENTS AND GUARDIANS IT ALSO LISTS COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND INTERESTED

[02:05:06]

SO THOSE ARE STILL A PART OF THE POLICY.

IT'S JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE SOMEBODY WASN'T FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS.

YEAH, FOR SURE.

SO I WAS JUST CURIOUS, THE ONE THING THAT CAUGHT MY EYE, WHY IS GUARDIANS ONLY LISTED IN ONE PLACE? WHY WOULDN'T IT BE? IF WE'RE GOING TO REFERENCE PARENTS/ GUARDIANS [INAUDIBLE]? IN EVERY PLACE THAT THERE'S THE WORD PARENTS.

WELL, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S ALL COVERED, RIGHT? FOR SURE. FOR SURE. THROUGHOUT THE POLICY, NOT JUST IN THE VISITOR SECTION.

YEAH, RIGHT. I MEAN, UNDER CONTACTS WITH STAFF.

SHOULD THAT BE ADDRESSED? IF IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE IF IT COVERS IT IN THAT ONE AREA, THAT'S GREAT.

BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO.

AND IS GUARDIAN ENOUGH? ARE THERE OTHER PARENT GUARDIANS OR RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE? I MEAN, DO WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS? I DON'T WANT TO BE SUPER CRITICAL, BUT I MEAN, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T EXCLUDE PEOPLE.

ARE YOU MAKING FUN OF ME? NO.

YEAH, YOU KIND OF IF YOU LOOK AT THE TWO AREAS OR THE TWO SECTIONS OF THE POLICY, THERE'S ONE THAT TALKS ABOUT CONTACT WITH STAFF AND CONTACT WITH STAFF IS SOMEWHAT LIMITED TO PARENTS OR GUARDIANS WHERE VISITORS.

BUT THAT WAS THEY COULD BE ANYWHERE.

THEY COULD BE A PART OF PARENTS.

YEAH. AND THEY COULD BE IN THE COMMENTS AND THEY COULD COME IN FOR ACTIVITIES.

AND SO IT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BASED ON THE ROLE OF THE INDIVIDUAL COMING INTO THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.

THAT MAKES MUCH MORE SENSE.

THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.

OTHER QUESTIONS? I THINK WE BEAT THIS ONE TO DEATH.

THEN I NOTICED.

I NOTICED A SHALL THEY FORGOT TO CHANGE TO WILL.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT IN THERE AND IT'S GOING TO BE KNOWN AS THE ANDREW LAWHON SHALL.

OH, I SEE IT. YEAH, IT IS THERE.

I MOVE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED THE REVISION OF POLICY 4200 SAFE AND ORDERLY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR ON THE REVISION OF POLICY 4200.

STUDENTS DO YOU HAVE AN ADVISORY VOTE? PRO. OKAY.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES 4 TO 0.

THANK YOU BOARD. MOVING ON TO FUTURE EVENTS.

[14. Future Agenda Items and Board Events]

[INAUDIBLE] ANYTHING THAT THE BOARD WANTS TO ADD BEFORE WE CLOSE THIS MEETING? STUDENTS THOUGHTS COMMENTS? FOOTBALL GAME. MARK MORRIS ON FRIDAY ISN'T IT AT MARK MORRIS, THOUGH? IT IS AT MARK. WELL, IT'S AT THAT MEMORIAL STADIUM AT [INAUDIBLE] LONG BUT YEAH, IT'S IT'S A ROAD TRIP.

OKAY. WE WILL ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT 8:08.

THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.