School Board Meeting Summary

Wenatchee School District

School BoardMeeting SummaryWenatchee School District

August 13, 2019 - Regular Meeting

The Wenatchee School Board will now provide a "Board Meeting Summary Briefing" after each Board meeting. The summary includes a short description of the main topics and action items. These summaries are not meant to replace minutes. The minutes for each meeting are approved and posted after the next regularly scheduled meeting. We hope these summaries provide some basic information and context around the reports, presentations and action items.

For the full packet of information including presentations and reports, Click Here.


Meetings are video streamed live online and the videos are archived on the District website, Click Here.

Regular Meeting

Attendance: Laura Jaecks, Vice President, Karina Vega-Villa, Sarah Knox, Michele Sandberg

Absent: Sunny Hemphill, President


SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT I Watch

Supt. Gordon asked that the board review the norms established at the July 10 board meeting He asked the board members to choose two norms to focus on during this meeting and reminded them it's up to the board to monitor the adherence of the norms.


CITIZENS' COMMENTS I Watch
Citizen Charlie Atkinson asked the Board to consider holding a public meeting to provide the stakeholders with an understandable summary about the complexities of school funding and the proposed 30-cent increase to the levy.


CONSENT AGENDA I Watch
Board members Sandberg motioned and Vega-Villa seconded to approve the consent agenda. Sandberg moved and Knox seconded a walk-on addition to the personnel report. The Board voted unanimously to approve the consent agenda.


DISCUSSION I Watch

2019-20 Budget Update I Watch

Larry Mayfield, Executive Director of Finance & Operations

Supt. Gordon thanked Executive Director of Finance & Operations Larry Mayfield for his work to prepare a budget given the complex nature of the budgeting process. He commented that the budget proposal prepared by Mr. Mayfield and the Cabinet team was mindful of the current and future needs of the District and is respectful of precious local taxpayer resources. The ultimate goal of the budgeting process is to create a balanced four-year budget. To get there, the District is taking decisive action and considering short and long-term implications. The proposed FY19-20 budget is a fiscally responsible plan intended to maintain operations and delivery of essential services and programming for students until the next levy cycle.

Mr. Mayfield presented a budget overview of the 2018-19 budget that based on analysis shows a 2.2 million dollar surplus at the end of the fiscal year on August 30. This surplus has positioned the District to have a stronger fund balance going into the 19-20 budget however due to a number of factors including the state's new school funding model, the District will enter the 2019-2020 school year with a budget deficit of 1.66 million dollars. The increase in expenditures is outpacing revenue. Without the addition of increased levy dollars, the District will face a 1.66 million deficit. The administration will recommend that the board approve the FY19-20 Wenatchee School District budget at the August 27 board meeting.

Levy I Watch
Larry Mayfield, Executive Director of Finance & Operations

The four-year budget model clearly indicates the District will need to make further staffing reductions and/or increase the levy to offset the projected 1.66 million budget deficit in 19-20. The administration is recommending a $0.30/$1,000 of assessed valuation increase to the levy.


The board directed Superintendent Gordon to work with staff to create community engagement opportunities to collect feedback through public hearings.

POLICY AND PROCEDURE UPDATES -POLICIES 1ST READING I Watch

Larry Mayfield, Executive Director of Finance & Operations

The State has added clarifying language regarding the use of Local Revenues for Enrichment and the expectation to hold a public hearing to review the auditor’s findings within 30 days. The State requires the adoption of this new language. The board will need to take action on adopting this updated policy at the August 27th board meeting.

BOARD COMMUNICATION I Watch

SUPERINTENDENT REPORT I Watch

Supt. Gordon is excited to welcome staff back on August 20 at Opening Day and welcome students back August 27. He stated that he has begun to get a better understanding of the District as an organization and is very impressed with the caliber of staff.


Board Workshop
A special meeting will be held on Monday, August 19 from 1-3 p.m. for the Board and superintendent to discuss personal and shared values.


ADJOURNMENT

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Monday, August 19, 2019 | Special Meeting at WSD Central Office 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019 | Regular Board Meeting at WSD Central Office 6:00 p.m.