001Good evening. I'd like to call to order the Coupeville School District Board of Directors regular meeting for Thursday, July 31st, 2025. Please rise and join me in the flag salute. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stand indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Um, at this time we'd like to read actually at this time I'd like to remind you that the meeting will be recorded and available on the district's YouTube channel and website. Is there a motion to adopt the agenda? >> I move to adopt the agenda as presented. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded to adopt the agenda as presented. All those in favor? >> I. All those opposed? Motion carries. Now, we'd like to read the district land acknowledgement and the district
002equity statement. And I'd like to invite Director Sherman uh to start us out. >> Couple schools are located on the ancestral lands of the lower sketch of people. Thousands of years coast Salish tribes have stewarded these lands, waterways, plants, and animals. We pay respect to the elders past, present, and emerging. For they hold the memories, traditions, and culture of their people across the nation. Kville schools are committed to educating students, staff, and the community about this long history as we honor and acknowledge the continued presence of the Swamish Indian tribal community and all other indigenous peoples. >> Thank you so much. And our Coupeville School District equity statement read by Director Merwine. >> The Coupeville School District is unequivocally committed to providing a safe, equitable, and inclusive working and learning community for all. Whether about
003race, religion, language, immigration status, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, class, ability, or a combination of these. All st students deserve to be respected for who they are and acknowledged for the strengths they bring to our learning community. >> Thank you so much. Moving on to the consent agenda. Is there any item that a board member wishes to remove from the consent agenda? Hearing none, I'll call for a motion. >> I'll move to approve the consent agenda items as listed A through E. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded to approve the consent agenda as presented. All those in favor? >> I. >> All those opposed. Motion carries. >> Moving on to recognitions, I'll turn it over to Superintendent Leatherwood. >> All right. We have a couple recognitions tonight. Um, one, um, we had our
004Washington State Patrol inspection um, that occurred right before school got out and we were came out, um, perfect. So, we again, I think it's either the third or fourth year in a row that um, our inspections came out um, great. So, our um on behalf of the Washington State Patrol, our transportation department received a letter of achievement and that's included in the board docs. Um as well as um our um transportation supervisor Rod Rob Wallace went this summer and received his um driver training course um through the state of Washington. So, um, in the past, Pillville School District has, um, contracted with a a driver trainer that would train our, um, drivers throughout the year. Um, and, um, he's able to do that now because he's officially trained, certified, and he received his certification last
005week. So, we're very proud of him as well. >> Thank you so much. Um I know that success of those things is dependent on the people who make them happen and so just want to express our gratitude for that. Um awesome work. >> It's a good team. >> Yes. >> Moving on to public comment. If you didn't get a chance to sign up for public comment and would like to, the sheet is on the podium. Is there any? >> Yes. Okay, we do have one public comment this evening. Um, the total time for public comment period is 21 minutes. Each speaker will have a maximum of three minutes minutes. Public comment period is an opportunity for the board to listen to individuals on educational issues. However, the public comment period is not a time for
006dialogue between the board and the public. The board will not respond to statements, questions, or challenges made during the public comment period, and there will be no back and forth dialogue. Please know that the board silence is neutral. It is neither a signal of agreement or disagreement with the speaker's remarks. Although the board will not engage in dialogue, the board chair may ask the speaker a clarifying question, or it's possible that a school staff may contact the speaker to follow up on an issue later. And finally, please remember that your words have an impact and that you are legally responsible for your words. We ask that you help us model for our students what a respectful and inclusive community looks and sounds like. And we do have uh one public comment. I just want to
007make sure. Do you want to give your public comment now or do you want to wait till the public hearing on the budget? >> Okay, great. So, I'd like to invite our um first speaker is Miss Caitlyn Rush. >> Yeah. >> I love that before comment um that we remind each other about the impact of the words that we say um because that's um going to start out why I'm here today. Um so, for those of you who don't know me, my name is Caitlyn Rush. I teach first grade at Google Elementary School. I'm here today not just to respond to a comment that was made at a previous meeting by our business manager, Brian Janello, but also to challenge the board to prioritize funding where it matters most in the classroom. At the previous
008meeting, Brian uh made a comment stating that teaching staff would step up in light of the district's financial constraints being asked to do more with less. I'd like to offer some perspective on what exactly stepping up has looked like in my classroom since I joined the district in 2019. Every year I have faced serious behavioral incidents, chairs thrown, desks flipped, I've been stabbed with pencils, and at one point a safety pin. My classroom has been physically destroyed on at least six occasions. At the same time, student enrollment has increased, support staff have decreased, and our resources continue to age or disappear altogether. To highlight the point to the board and any members of the public here, I did bring a photo with me um of my classroom that demonstrates just one recent incident. And we're
009going to go old school because I didn't know how to get it on the projector. So, I tried to make it big so that you could see it from where you're sitting. Um, this is just the only photo that I have, but um, you can see that at least my desks and chairs are intact and I didn't get hit that day, but this just is what I had on my phone to show um, that this has happened with somewhat regularity ever since I've joined the district. Um, on a daily basis, I'm asked to provide excellent instruction while handling severe behavioral disruptions, often without any immediate support because the district has continued to prioritize funding further away from the classroom. I've had to rely on janitors, office staff, fellow teachers simply because sometimes there's just nobody
010else available when this kind of thing happens. I've even had to evacuate my class into the hallway and just simply hope someone would find my kids and help them. All while this is happening, we don't even have curriculum for subjects like science or social studies. And what curriculum materials we do have are outdated by over a decade. So yes, I've stepped up. I've given everything, my time, my energy, my mental health, even my physical safety. But I'm tired, I'm burnt out, and I have nothing worth it. So, Brian, I ask you, how many chairs have been thrown at you during your workday? How many times have you had to call for help and found no one available? I don't have a team of co-workers like you do walking me through how to do my job,
011and I don't get to blame outdated resources. I simply just have to make it work. To the board, your job is to serve the students of this community. They deserve small groupoup instruction, interventions, and a safe, supported classroom. They deserve real curriculum, not YouTube videos for science class. But we can't provide any of that unless the district invests in the classroom first. Thank you. I know I went over by 5 seconds. I apologize. >> Thank you so much. Miss Russ, do you mind if I ask you um were you able to watch the board meeting last month? >> Okay. >> Most of it. Yes. >> Okay. And then just also you just mentioned um just talking about funding and priorities away from the classroom and curriculum. Is there something else that you are referencing that
012would increase support in the classroom? >> Um support staff particularly um we just have fewer and fewer pair professional um and even they I mean I can't speak for them but they are my colleagues and I also know that they're feeling like they're being asked to do more less all the time as well. I just was speaking from the high and what it looks like in my Right. So, was that does that answer your question? I was I did mention curriculum, but I'm also talking about appropriate support staff. Yeah. So, thank you. >> Yeah. And thank you and we will follow up with you. Um Yeah. After. >> Thank you very much. >> All right. Um on to reports and communications. This we don't have an administrator report. Um, but we'll jump into the next
013item, which was business manager report. >> Before Brian starts with that, I did want to introduce the the board to um, Miss Rebecca Case, who's our middle school principal. >> All right, Brian, >> close this up here. we will just jump right into the this is your monthly uh financial report is what we're going to go through. Uh but before I guess I dive into it, I'll demystify a little bit what you guys have here too. Uh it's all posted on board docs as well, but you have what we are call board packet here that's clipped together that has more information than we're going to present on today. A lot of this you've seen already in the workshop or in previous sessions. likely enrollment numbers and and some of the including the slides that we
014will present today are there too. So it's not uh this is kind of intended just to get some information in your hands, hard copy stuff uh and probably more detail than we'll cover, but just wanted to let you know that that's there. All that is actually posted on board docs as well, so the public can click through and get some more information as well. So with that, we'll dive into the monthly financial report. So go to the next slide. Again, this is uh mainly our accountability values. Transparency is what the monthly financials will speak to the most, but all of this is for the students to promote student staff well-being and other pillars and goals are listed on the screen as well. So go ahead to the next slide. Uh, and we're jumping through the
015enrollment. We'll talk about enrollment a little bit here towards the end of this presentation, but June enrollment numbers since June's done. There's there's nothing more to report there. Um, so we're going right into the June financial report, although it's July. Just keep keep in mind this is through June financials that we're diving into. So, go ahead. Next slide. First one we wanted to talk about is uh one we've been watching is the cash flow. You can see we did take that dip down in June just like past trends. But the good news is we didn't dip down below that need to borrow from another fund area. So pleased with that and that's even with the unexpected unanticipated June month of the state aortionment saying uh we can't you know we're going to fund you at
016a lower percentage than we have for many years in June. Uh part of that was offset with that news that we got from the state that uh you know they said they're not going to fund the portionment monthly. Uh but they also gave us this unexpected $50 per student uh funds. So they kind of those two things for this district offset themselves and helped I think that dip there. But we still do follow that same trend. So we can anticipate this to go up a little bit in July and August. But again the good news is we're not having to borrow from another fund to pay our bills. Won't be bills. So next slide. Ran, is there anything in particular that caused it to drop more rapidly than prior? It went from, you know, up
017700K in April, 700K in May down to 400k in June. >> Yeah. Why? Why? Essentially, you're asking why is there a big dip in June? Correct. >> Why was it more aggressive than prior months? >> Deeper from >> Oh, yeah. It's it's largely state aortionment. I can show I'm trying on the cash flow. >> The state didn't fund us um like they were supposed to in June. They're going to make up for it in July. So, you're going to see the trend be a little bit off than in past years. >> Push up. >> Yeah. And it's going to push up in July. That was because of that last minute change from the state. >> Yeah. That's true, too. Why it would be if you're looking at if you're talking about the past trends, Exactly.
018They are going to fully fund the TK is part of that too. I guess if you really want to get into the Yeah, if you're looking at the past trend, why did it dip >> more this year? TK is another one where they said they will fund us by the end of the year. So, there are some little unusual trends this year. It's good. >> Next slide. Uh we just took that same information and uh put it in terms of fund balance percentage. So you can see what the different cash looks like in terms of a fund balance percentage throughout the different months. June we are down to 3.9%. >> In November is when our money caught up to aortionment or to enrollment. That's November. Uh no, January. >> Oh, >> January is when Exactly.
019So for September through December, >> uh we would be funded based off of what we budgeted for, but then in January, it'll adjust to our actual numbers. January. So, something I noticed when I was flipping through the packet, and I think I kind of commented on this last week, >> is when I compare those two trends and I see that massive dip through Jan December, January. >> Yeah. >> I looked back and that same trend has happened yearover-year. >> I'm sure there's plenty of interpretations. One that folds to me is the idea that when enrollment comes up, spending starts without concern for what's coming in. And that was past leadership and when I see this gap, I see a different style of financial management that I think is what's helping us be in better position.
020Wanted to make that cut. >> It's a good observation. with those those are the trend lines uh as we manage our financials. This is the actual uh financials essentially a budget status report showing revenues and expenditures for the general fund that will show your total ending fund balance for June at $726,11.19. So that information is there for you. So go ahead next slide. I thought we'd do here's where we're going to get into some of the enrollment uh information is to take a look at this and kind of compare budget to actual because I think this will feed right into the budget extension uh discussion. So go ahead and click on this one time because really we're going to focus on what we budgeted for in 2425 for basic education which is that 915.9 students.
021Uh the thing with basic education that we have to take into consideration is the CTE enrollment as well because you have to back that out. So even though we budgeted 915.9 for basic education, once we back out that 15 CTE students, we actually really just budgeted 900.9 for basic ed. Um but look what happened. If you're looking at the actuals, we came in over what we budgeted for basic ed and for CTE. The next step is to go ahead and do that same back out the CTE actuals from basic ed. Uh, and you can come up with that actual 910.85 was what we actually ended up for basic eds or or enrollment. Let's stick with that for now. So, we were up from what we budgeted uh in that category. Go ahead and click. The
022other area to really draw your focus to is special education. We budgeted 150 students in special education, but we ended up almost 40 students more in actual terms. So, just like you guys were talking about before, from September to December, we were going off of these budgeted uh enrollment numbers and provided an allocation through the state based on those budgeted numbers. But then in January, we received the started receiving the adjusted amount to our actual numbers based on the percentage by months. So we're going to end up with more uh revenue than we budgeted for is the the takeaway here. So go ahead to the next slide. There it goes. What this slide does is it takes what we were just looking at and puts it in terms of dollars. So like we were saying
023now this is based on June aortionment because this will adjust monthly but overall since we had over our actual enrollment was higher than what we budgeted to. This basically says you're going to receive $451,000 more in revenue than you budgeted for. So that's something to keep in mind. Go ahead to the next slide. Now, what this does is remember we budgeted for capacity are $450,000. So, essentially the revenues that we just came upon us for $450,000 over budget. Well, good. We had capacity to essentially absorb that. And you can see these are by program uh just a highle summary of our budget for each of the programs. what where they're actually at through June. It does have encumbrances there to consider and it gives you an analysis. But to go further, if you want to
024break this down and see a little more by program, go ahead to the next slide. Actually, we'll come back to that. That's in the budget extension part. Yeah, we'll come back. Sorry, I got ahead of myself. So, just that that's the summary for that. that it should be the breakdown in the budget extension piece. So when we get to that, we'll talk more about that. Go ahead. If it's not there, we'll find that slide. These are the other funds. Sticking with the monthly uh financial part, uh these are the other funds. Capital projects, debt service, ASB, and transportation vehicle fund. Uh where our balances are at. Uh you'll see debt service was the big one. We did make that final debt service non-voted payment. So we have a that's our lower back fund balance in
025debt service transportation vehicle fund. We did pay for the bus in July. So that's why we still have a fund balance there showing in transportation vehicle fund. But next month you'll see that report on July. So go ahead to the next slide. So now we're going to talk uh about the fund the the extension that we need. Yeah. Yeah. >> Service fund real quick. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> On the like just the financial reports the budget status reports you know that we get >> it says our revenues were negative you what why was that negative $181 actuals for the month? >> I'll have to look on the budget status report and get back to you on that one. >> Okay. have it in front of me, but I'll uh I'll note that down and look.
026>> I would just assume that our Yeah, I don't >> You're seen it on the budget stat >> under local taxes. It's a negative like like maybe they overpaid us last month or something. >> Yeah. No, I know what you're talking about. That's that does happen and that is a thing. Yes, there occasionally we will get a negative uh amount that we have to book uh for whatever reason. We did look into it from the county as well. I did inquire about that when it happened the first time. >> Okay. >> Because I thought it was unusual. >> Okay. >> But uh yeah, due to local taxes, there is something like that where >> that is a thing. You could potentially have negatives there. >> It's a correction. It can be made though. >> Correct.
027Correct. It comes from the county. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Exactly. >> Extension. So, go ahead to the next slide. Interesting. I'm kind of missing a slide in there, but you It's posted out there and it's in your board packet uh because I don't think it's going to get there. What? There's a It's posted out there. There's a by programming report. We kind of talked about this a little bit. The workshop. Is it page nine? Thank you. Yeah, >> somehow I must have got a hit a slide that I didn't want to hide there earlier and that I was thinking it was repeating here, but I don't think it will because this even further collapses it more uh what's on the screen now. But if you wanted to see a buy program look at uh
028which programs are under budget or overbudget, what did you say? Slide nine. >> Slide nine is what you'll want to reference. And you also have it printed out in your packet because that's something that we had talked about that is actually you can see which programs what's on the screen now is taking out those programs that actually were under budget. So now we're just looking at the programs that were overbudget throughout 2425. And the main ones are special education uh and then down transportation or other support services which is districtwide. So those are your two main programs that had overages even above that capac anticipated capacity amount. Um part of that is due to some high need students that needed more services one to end school districts which required additional transportation. uh we started doing
029that in January. So that was uh not anticipated and what the capacity we budgeted for was not able to absorb those types of things as well. So if you go to the next slide, what that means is overall remember we did have some programs on that slide nine that's missing that were still coming in under budget, not over budget. So really if you look one projection shows uh we're still going to exceed our budgeted capac budgeted capacity with that contingency that we built in uh maybe this is projection shows by 125,000 is roughly what what we're going to end up going over budgeted capacity with even with that 450 contingency. So go ahead next slide. Where this comes full circle is this is the budget extension proposal that we need. Um it's more than enough.
030Uh we we did 500,000 to special education and to the support services program. Another 500,000 um just is recommended as good practice so that you don't try to uh project uh you know 100,000 is what we need and then we're back here in August having to do another extension real quick. the recommendation and best practice is just to go ahead and project higher than even you think you're going to need um because it is a state requirement to do a budget extension to extend that overall budget capacity. The requirement really isn't concerned with anything else. Uh we did take the opportunity to uh true up some of the revenues and that's what this sheet shows as well uh and updated the fund balance beginning fund balance amount as well on the extension so we can
031compare that when we move forward. But that was the the main part and go to the next slide. I think it's just the question slide. So hopefully that provides some more clarity and analysis that you can look at later by program too to see how that all works together. So >> I asked that question I meant to last time when I'm looking at the summary you had a couple slides back about each of the programs and what the um over under budget is. I understand special ed because you get special ed special need students and I get that. But what was the significant difference in people transportation? Almost $200,000. Is there a thing you can point to? >> Yes, there there is. Uh the really it's the high need student uh it required adding another
032bus driver and another route. Um so we've the way we've been able to manage it, they've uh split the route at this point too between two bus drivers. It's that van route where they have to transfer to student uh to Edmonds. >> So that's the transportation expense for those specialty. >> Correct. Correct. >> It's a lot. >> It it is and actually it is it's good segue. I'll mention we for our safety net application that cost since they're being transported in a van safety net initially said the stars transportation model should pick it up. So they pointed us in that direction. Hey, we're not going to give you safety net fund for that. You have to get it through stars transportation. We talked to transportation and they said, "No, it's only a big yellow bus
033that we reimburseed you for. Since you're transporting in a van, safety net's got to pick it up." So, they kind of went back and forth. Uh there is a process through safety net. You have 20 days after you're awarded your allocation to essentially contest or reconsideration the appeal. So, we've uh submitted an appeal for to safety net describing this exact uh scenario of what they're saying with transportation and why we feel it should be considered as a safety net cost. So, we're see what they say. We're hoping to recoup some of that. It's kind of the ugly thing about budget extensions because you have to do the budget extension to increase capacity, but you also probably got the revenue and safety net and other places that help offset that, but you still have to revise
034the budget. >> Correct. >> Yeah. Correct. >> But in that case, in particular with transportation, we did not get any um recruitment yet. >> We're still waiting to see if the appeal is >> and and I'll say what's also tied into that appeal is not just the transportation part. since we started serving that student in January. Like you're saying, the way safety net works is similar to the budget. Like we have a budgeted amount that they're looking at that they say that's your capacity and we see that Oak Harbor School District bills you for, you know, that amount at the end of the year. So we're going to base your safety net award on that. Well, we didn't start until January those costs to Edmonds School District. And so that's part of that appeal too
035is no no we we have actually doubled that budget capacity and if you're limiting our award on that initial analysis please also reconsider that at the end of the year we're going to have bills to Edmonds school district and Carver which would be double. So we'll see. Can I ask you where do you where are you getting the revenue numbers on this um budget extension projection? You're projecting 20 million, but like looking in the cash flow analysis that you have. I don't see that in here. So, I'm just curious where you're getting that. >> Uh it's a mixture if I recall uh on that spreadsheet off to the side. Most of it comes right off of aortionment. So whatever the aortionment amount is or some of those other grants uh may have to go off
036of UGMS and what we're projected to get with our grant claims that include carry. >> You're talking about the cash flow analysis sheet. >> No, no, no. >> On this Oh, >> the summary sheet. You're talking about that revenue budget extension. >> Um talking about the yellow highlight. >> Yeah, the yellow highlights. Exactly. >> Yeah. And I'm not I'm just curious if you know obviously a million dollars is not the target of expenditures for the budget extension. Um but I'm I'm just curious about your revenue numbers and then obviously knowing what's happening to our fund balance. I mean, you're not gonna spend a million dollars, but we are giving you authority based on, you know, so I just this revenue number here is not matching what I'm seeing in the cash flow. So, I just
037was curious about that. >> Yeah, most of it is getting updated to a portionment um 4,000 series. I see like you're saying that might be a little high. I'd have to look at the side of the spreadsheet because I have some notes on where this is coming from. So, I'll have to get back to you on that one. Okay. Sure. >> But I could peel that away. But you're right that that uh yeah these these revenues that are showing here may not be uh what we actually end up with at the end of the year. And I think that that's my that's my bottom line kind of comment around the budget extension is that you know we are giving approval for a million extra dollars but keeping in mind that the you know what you
038already know and you guys have done a great job with but the target goal is that 6% funded balance and so however those revenues fluctuate obviously the target goal is still the same regardless of the capacity in the extension. That make sense? >> Yeah. Okay. >> So, no, it's a good point. >> You guys already know that. That's no mystery. But, but you know, obviously that >> that's not the end game is to spend all a million dollars. >> Just saying it to say it. >> There. Any other questions? >> I'm actually going to follow up on president's comment here. Seems like at the beginning of the year, we we really work hard on making a budget that's going to match reality. We get down last month here, it's like we'll just throw money out.
039We'll just throw numbers out there to get us through the year, whatever. Just throw them in there. And that's okay at the end of the year because we kind of actually know what we're spending. So, just make these put these numbers in the budget, call it an extension, and we're good. Is that a little bit kind of what we're doing? >> Uh well essenti on the expenditure side. Remember the the requirement and these are like these uh million dollars budget extension. Keep in mind this isn't actual dollars. We're talking about budget capacity. What the state saying and what projections are showing like we showed on an earlier slide. We're we're looking like our the bottom line is our expenditures are looking like they're going to be over the 18.8 eight billion maybe by 200,000. >>
040Yeah. >> I'm just saying that. >> But yes, in order to not second guess like exactly what that number is, we need to just >> But that year, it's not like, hey, just pay out a couple million. >> No. No. Because it's it's so volatile. Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. I would say it's volatile. Like it's high volatility right now in public education and very difficult to budget and project especially when you have things throughout the year in June that come up where the state finally says oh uh we're not going to be able to pay you uh what you're used to in June. Um federal grants is another one that's uncertain right now. There's a lot of uncertainty and volatility >> that way. My comment just was it seems like state has different standards at
041the beginning of the year than they do at the end of the year. >> Does Lori at the BSD review this for being close to reasonable? Honestly, the in terms of a budget extension, the only thing that she is looking at and the state is looking at is did you exceed the expenditure capacity >> that is the only thing that is under review. >> Like you're saying the re they could care I we don't even have to report what we the way I adjusted the revenues here could have left that out completely. It's not even they don't even care about that. >> Which is just why I'm saying our priority is our fund balance and that and that that we're ending the year. >> Correct. >> You know where we're where we're planning and projecting.
042So I and looking at the cash flow analysis like it looks >> a more accurate document. and it looks like we are coming up short in some of the grant. Um, >> and so it'll be interesting to see, you know, how the revenues actually come in and and play out. >> Exactly. And with the grants, you're exactly right. We're not there there will that's carryover. There's going to be some carryover. I can I can see in different grants that just some funds got budgeted for certain lines that people didn't >> didn't do. So that goes into carryover. What chick said is what makes me really want to look at these reports on a monthly basis and have a better idea of where we are for revenue expenses in each of those categories with perhaps a
043little note to the right to explain it. You know, two special needs kids going to Edund or a loss of something or another because we we kill ourselves making the budget and trying to make sure everything makes sense. But we don't always get to see where things like I just asked a question about transportation that makes perfect sense. feed you up the kids, but it does there's not a natural connection to special ed unless somebody points it out to you. So, I'd like to see that kind of information on a monthly basis, not down to the mass eyelash because it's too hard, but just you can say, you know, got we're up seven kids in this category, we're down this or somebody down six week, we had to hire it. >> I love that slide
044that you did on nine. For me, that is like totally I I love that and it's just and to be able to follow that for me throughout the year or a little, you know, even quarterly or something. I I think that that >> that's really what I've been looking for and I appreciate that one a lot. >> Yeah. And what I can do is I can incorporate incorporate that into the monthly finance. Believe it or not, you got that is there. It's just not in this format. So there there is that. Do you see that real monthly monthly show and buy program the expenditures? >> Um but if you like this format better definitely >> well this just breaks it out where the the actual report gives you you know >> special ed. This gives
045you 21 and 24 then it gives you voced. It breaks down all of the programs underneath it which I like. >> It's just a little more detailed. >> Yeah that's exactly what our budget committee was asking for. Director Connor to ask for that and I I like it as well because it's it's more specific >> each of those >> and over a period of time it's going to let you know how accurate you were creating the budget in the first place. Exactly. >> Which is really what we need to be then. >> Yeah. And I'm not opposed to like you're saying like we can talk more about it but I you know I would take this one and put if you want a note column there. I can certainly put a note column there and
046as things come up kind of just put some real verbal notes in there too. Okay. >> Are you are we are you doing any or we're jumping off to superintendent report for budget stuff? Perfect. >> Yeah, we just got a section. >> All right, moving on to our next item. >> Superintendent Leatherwood. >> All right. Um I'd like to thank the board last week for our in-depth conversation around budget and um so part of what um director Gianelo and I um put together today is a condensed version of what we discussed last week. And so if we go on to the next um slide, this is really looking at year two of our strategic plan priorities and aligning them with our budget and looking at the budget um with the lens of our strategic plan
047specifically. Um as we look at our five pillars um we want to ensure that at the center of every budget decision are those five pillars. um what I had put in the um in on this slide was around maintaining that flexibility um with our funding realities. So our strategic plan should be guiding our decisions. We recognize that budgets um must um adapt to the changing circumstances. As you saw this year, there are changing circumstances um throughout the year from both um the state, but also you know aortionment student enrollment throughout the year drives all of that. Um we also know that more students mean more resources. Um and that helps us invest into our strategic priorities. um we tend to have um pretty stable enrollment. We increase um instead of we see around the state
048many districts are decreasing in enrollment were actually stable or increasing which is really helpful. Um but some of the fluctuation that we've seen this year with the state funding, with federal funding, um we always have to be um adapting to our plan and ensuring that we have priorities um and stick to the priorities in order. And so part of what um I we put in here are are the priorities that we would like to see um strategic staffing restoration. We would like to see um instructional um staff for lower class sizes. We want to be able to restore um that that would be a priority that we would have upcoming years. Um specialized educators expanding um student pathways. So looking at CTE being able to expand offerings to our students at the high school starting
049in middle school. um being able to um ensure that we support all of our teachers and professionals and um student um well-being but also staff well-being to ensure that they um have the support but also the training to support our students and then also um I put on here infrastructure staff um maintaining um safe learning environments but that's really around ensuring that we have support staff and enough support staff as we heard tonight in public um comment um to support the classrooms um at every level. And then looking at our coaching stipens and looking at um restoring our um coaches to the level that they were previously, these would all be um what we'd like to restore in the upcoming years and what our priorities that align to our strategic plan are. Um the other
050piece to this is looking at curriculum and course expansion. Um, again, we heard in public comment, um, tonight, uh, outdated curriculum. That's something when I came on board, I I noticed dramatically in this district is the the lack of curriculum that was guaranteed and viable. And so really looking at that, ensuring that we have student interests, that we're looking at curriculum that has been vetted through the state, look at um for that equity lens and ensuring that our students have high rigor and and relevance. We also want to ensure in that expansion that we're expanding our our CTE um offerings but also providing the curriculum that backs that and not self-made curriculum again guaranteed and viable curriculum. And then finally, restoring um sorry, two more. Um restoring our music and arts. I'd like to see
051band coming back. I'd like to see that as a priority of the board, priority of our district in the upcoming years. Um and then also looking at work-based um opportunities for our students as well. Um all of that I feel like um helps to support our student empowered initiatives. Um we are bringing on um two student board reps next month. I'm very excited about that. We're going to start a a superintendent advisory group that will um go throughout the year that will get a a a diverse group of students together each month talking about different topics to drive what we need for our district and hearing those student voice um teams um be able to problem solve and and my goal and my hope would be that our student board reps would help support that
052um initiative. looking at leadership development opportunities across grade levels. This year we're starting our web program which will have our eighth graders supporting our sixth graders as they transition into middle school. Um we have a leadership program at the elementary that we'd like to continue to look at ways that we can support them through training and then also our ASB leadership at the high school. The ultimate goal will be to also bring on um link program at the high school to support students um transitioning to the high school as well. Um we're bringing on board this year trianual so three times this year um students um staff and our community will be taking surveys around belonging and um data driven support to see you know how students are feeling about school. um are they feeling
053welcomed? Do they feel belonging? And and really hone in on what what goals we might be able to set around that data. Um we also have technology and resources and enhance student voice. We're looking at ways that students can develop videos, create um ways to entice other students to get involved and um that will be with director um Smith helping to to lead that charge as well. And then we also um in partnership with uh Miss Bumgardner will be looking at mental health and wellness supports. We've already partnered with Island County. They're helping to support and fund um partial staff um support for our high school for mental health, but we're going to continue to push and expand that. Um, Director Murwine and I have the opportunity next week to to speak with one of
054our um, state representatives, Rick Larson, and we're hoping to also kind of talk about some of the needs um, even nationally that come down and mental health is one of those that that would help support. As we go on to the next slide, um, what I I put on here was really that planning forward slide and director Merwine asked for that planning forward. What are we doing with this budget? What are we planning for? And I want to remind us that a budget is a plan. The plan can be adjusted depending on what happens. So per se, we plan for additional staff, but our enrollment doesn't come in. We may have to wait on that plan until we have the capacity to do so or the portion. So these are things that we are planning
055for. we want to ensure that we're moving forward with if we have that aortionment come through in the fall. And so um in the first column I put in uh the current operating context. So what we did this year, this is what we had this year. Um the second column is around what we want to plan for the future. And so um that first column, we know that we've made reductions um in staff. We know that we suspended the ban program. Um curriculum materials are outdated. We have not been on a curriculum cycle for many years. Um and we have not had those cycles to ensure that um we're continuing to um adopt curriculum on a regular basis. Um we have teaching support positions that were at reduced levels as we heard tonight. And then
056we also have coaching stipens um at reduced compensation levels. we are not meeting I would say the industry standard around what we're looking for coaches those stipens. So moving forward we want to we want to rebuild and regain some of those things. So restoring the band program um to provide comprehensive arts education to all of our students um and ensure that all of our students have the opportunity to be in a music program um expand our CTE offerings to meet student and community needs. I did share a more um specific uh list at our workshop last week of what those were and how we're expanding that and what our future goals are within the CTE program. Um we also want to establish sustainable curriculum budget for those researchbased materials and you'll see um that we
057have put um curriculum adoption into the budget this year which I was quite surprised when I came on board last year that there was not a substantial curriculum budget. So we've restored that and we'll be looking and hoping our kids walk through the door so that we can continue with that push as well. Um, we also will be building an actual cycle that we'll be um ma ensuring that the board's aware of. You'll you'll see what we currently have for curriculum, what our curriculum cycle will be, and when curriculums need to be updated and that for this year, we want to increase teaching and support personnel to optimal staffing levels. We want our our class sizes to be reduced, but we also want to ensure that we're adding staffing where we can support our students
058at their best and then also restore coaching stipens to that um competitive compensation level. So all of this we have built into our budget for this coming year. again depending on our the state funding, federal funding and um students walking through the door and us meeting that um enrollment level. Um our hope is that that we will have that for this year and we'll continue in the future to build as we have this year. So our strategy is to ensure that we have a clear connection to our student outcomes and to our strategic priorities. you're going to see with our new administrators that everything that's going to be at the school improvement plan level is going to tie directly to our strategic plan. Um we're going to be looking, as um Director Sherman um discussed
059a couple meetings ago, looking at multi-year budget planning um so that we can um phase in implementation. So as we set priorities, we'll have those multi-year to be able to look at whether we can sustain that and we can do that over multiple years. We're also going to priority rank um based on our student impact data. And so looking at what is our what's the biggest thing we need to restore or what's the biggest thing that we need to ensure with the money we have and if things have to drop that what's that going to look like? Um our biggest um piece in um bringing on the data dashboard that we have now available to us is really monitoring against our 90% graduation goal and how are we looking at high school and beyond plans.
060What are we doing to make sure that we're being proactive instead of reactive so that we're starting our kids in seventh grade and we already know exactly what we need to ensure that they have the opportunity to have so that they they graduate on time. Um, we also want to continue our partnerships um to leverage resources. Um, we have many partnerships that um, I feel are underutilized and so we're going to continue to expand on those partnerships and just ensure that um, this wonderful community continues to support Kville schools so that we can leverage more opportunities for our students. And then um grant funding and making sure that we um look at and continue to claim our grants, but also write grants to um ensure that we can restore um some of our footprint as
061well. And so this um process and this year, the way that we've worked with the budget, this has been um my primary focus coming on board is to ensure that we have a transparent reporting process to ensure that our taxpayers can see where their investments are and um that we can deliver the maximum student benefit for our students. And that's the >> I just have to say I love this slide. >> Yeah, >> I love this so much. It tells the story and it it have something for us to stay accountable to. >> Beautiful. >> Thank you. >> Same thing. I have a suggestion. Um it's an idea. This document should be included in the budget. This tells you more about what's going to happen next year than those numbers do. And I know that
062only 20 people will read it, but so what? 20 people do read this and they're going to be impressed and say, "Oh, that's what's happening." Um I it's a budget message but and it's philosophy and education standards and you can't talk about it too much and I I know you're planning already including or increasing communication out the community and I think working off this template is also I mean you can't beat it. It's the best information. We're really excited about that. I said it just needs to be more of our publication. >> We will do that. Yeah. Um on the next slide, I just um included this. This was from also last week. You already saw this slide, but just some things that we are ensuring are happening in the 2526 budget. Um and this
063is really our district vision in action. So universal design for learning. We're bringing on training for all staff in August, but that's going to be ongoing throughout the year and it will be embedded in everything that we do systemwide. So, um, we're very excited, um, for that. We have the guru who wrote many books on universal design for learning, Katie Novak, is gonna be our keynote. Um, and we're, we're just very excited for that piece. Um, where everyone belongs, um, our community foundation, schools foundation, um, supported us with a grant to get this program going through Boomerang Project. And uh this again will be that fifth grade transition that we're very excited for. We know when students feel belonging, they're more connected to school, their achievement goes up, but but even more so their attendance
064improves. And we want our kids here and um continuing to achieve at high levels. Um multi- uh tiered system of support is something that's been around for many um years. We are um continuing to expand our multi-tered systems of support. This is something that won't go away. You continue to perfect it. You continue to look at all tiers. What lies under that and what you've all seen from last year is our behavior matrix. And that behavior matrix is a systemwide um support that we provided for for staff um for students to know what the expectations are um and know what um the result is depending on what kind of behaviors come through. So it it helps staff be able to teach it. It helps students to understand it instead of a reactive message. It's a
065proactive message of here's the expectations in our district. Um the last one is focused professional development. And this one's um key. I I feel very strongly as an instructional leader that if we get guaranteed inviable curriculum, you cannot just put that in front of people and tell them to teach. you have to really um work with them on focused professional development um to show how to teach that curriculum. Um there's different ways to deliver it. There's different ways to engage students at high levels and there's different ways to get the rigor at the high level. So those are all things that we're bringing on this year um at different levels, but you'll see all four of these um continue for many years to come. So they're not just the one that >> I'm gonna turn
066it over to director Gianelo um just to talk about the budget um and what we discussed last week. >> So uh the slide that's up there is just an overall look at uh the final budget. It says draft Fed 195 there in the right hand column. You'd have to add those fund trans that transfers in to get the overall revenue budgeted total of 220,000. You'd add that to the 19 580,000 uh revenue amounts for your total budgeted revenues. And then you have your budgeted expenditures down below. These final numbers do include that 450,000 of capacity or contingency. Keep that in mind. And that's why it does do an interesting thing in terms of board policy, the 6% fund balance. So that's why I put both of those on this slide with contingency and without. So
067we actually are budgeting to meet that 6% fund balance, but when you add contingency, it comes up a little short. Um the other thing I'd say on here is uh to your point uh the projections. There's some projections for where we're going to end up in 2425 are on there. We talked about the expenditure side of that going over the 18.8 million uh million and that's why we're doing that budget extension tonight as well. Um but to the revenues, this is more of a a possibility of a revenue projection too of where we might end up which is more like 19.8 million. It's very difficult to project where you actually end up with revenues uh for various reasons that we've discussed. Also grant claims is one of the big ones like how Will we be
068able to claim certain line items in the various grants that people have? Uh or will that be carry over? Um but we need the capacity in case we do do get those revenue. So we'll see where we end up. But um yeah, that's the you have some comparisons to past years too, but that's the overall look at the budget and that was for general funds. That's the big the big one that we always uh talk most about, but we do budget for the other funds. Uh and that is shown here as well, capital projects, continuing to do some projects. Included in there is a Department of Defense grant capacity amount. So, we're waiting to hear on that, but we'll we'll be able to do out of the capital project fund debt service. Uh there is
069a budgeted amount in there, but that does not mean I'm we're not expecting to make any payments next year. We actually are um essentially all non-voted and voted debt is off the books. I just felt a little nervous in case there's some kind of residual interest that comes in or something. So we just budgeted $5,000 there in case some type of residual interest comes in, we do need to make a payment, but not anticipating any activity there for next year. uh ASB we have and transportation vehicle funding or transportation vehicle fund budgeted amounts as well. Go ahead. Next slide. One of the requirements this is for the general fund is also to do a four-year projection for each of these funds. There was some I just wanted to put this up there because we had
070some discussion on it. I think uh CHIP had a a good point in the local revenue projection amounts. So did go ahead and update that have those kind of project out different amounts increasing a little bit each year. Again this is a internal document uh tool that I can't remember that where I got this from exactly if it was ESD or another ESD or the state. Um but there are various ways to project. It's it is should be noted difficult to project uh multiple years in school finance. I mean it's hard enough as for all the reasons we talked about to to really figure out where we're going to end up at the end of the year. A lot of volatility there. So this is an internal document for a projection. You'll notice in the
071actual F195 or 195 may be some different projections in there. Uh and that's okay. just different. As you get in those out years, I think it gets harder and harder to actually anticipate what's coming. But that is requirements up there for the general fund. Go ahead, next slide. >> I just wanted to point out on that last slide also that that Brian had put on on there the levy with levy and without levy. I think that's really important because we do have a levy expiring um this year. And so um there is the that portion on there. It is not guaranteed. >> Yeah. Thank you. That's actually in my mind really the real useful thing of projecting. It would get you thinking forward uh about that local levy and see its impact and its need.
072And it feeds really well into the last slide here. It's just future budget considerations. There it is. These are our current uh levies and when the collections end. So the M is the general fund levy that will collections will end in 2627. So that we'll see that on that general fund projection that we were just looking at. In the capital projects fund, we actually have two different levies there. We have the capital projects levy. We also have the capital projects tech levy. And you can see where capital projects levy collections end this year. But CP tech levy is also something that we want to be thinking about and how all these things relate to a bond or that future. Is there are there any questions? >> No, I know we we talked a lot of
073budget at the last workshop. We've been talking about budget at the last several board meetings and workshops and I think that you know you've done a good job of delivering the information repetitively so we kind of keep getting the chance to ask. Um >> and that's what we did too. These don't read your packet. There's there's more information in there to to your heart's content. You have any questions we can go over it later too. >> Yep. So, I I've seen your truck here late at night, sir. Appreciate your work. Thank you. >> You mentioned earlier, Shannon. I just want to say that um I can't wait for next year's budget committee because this is so much more expansive explanation of where we are and where we're headed. And it answers so many things that
074came up next. I mean, this there's been a lot of work by you and your staff to get to the point. And I I just can't say enough good. It really is good information and it helps people know where we're heading and as you provide measurement of how successful we are on that. I mean that's the whole deal. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> That does remind me um does this mean that we possibly schedule a followup district so that we can >> Yeah. close the loop on that? >> We were supposed to do that in June but because of the instability of the federal funding Yeah. we're this is a perfect time especially last week we got some more news with so that that was helpful as well >> I think that would be
075a really good idea and I'm just going to express I know this people can home but I'm really disappointed that our workshop last week and this meeting virtually no one is in attendance so >> don't forget we have people watching online people can listen I'm excited about Any other question? Thank you so much. All right, jumping on to board member reports. We'll start down at the end with Director Sherman. Okay. Oh, well I I would say I do have a meeting with Representative D Paul next week just more of a touch base during the summer since they're getting ready for the upcoming it sounds a long way off but it's upcoming session January. Uh I have a couple things to discuss but if anybody has anything that they think particular we should ask about do
076particularly if it's not money there's something that you think the legislator could do to help us that wouldn't cost any money that very good reception >> so that end would mention we'll be meeting with Congress Again, if anything pops up that you need us to talk about other >> when you when are you having those meetings? Did you say sorry? >> When are you having those meetings? >> Congressman Larson is Wednesday afternoon. >> Okay. Thanks. Uh, let's see. Budget subcommittee. Um, what about budget? We had a few more in-depth meetings along the way. Good. Policy subcommittee. Um, we have not had a meeting this month. We'll get right back on that horse for next month. I did notice that the WASDA policy and legal report came out for July and there's a decent list including
077what I hope I haven't looked hope were small changes to a policy we're adopting tonight. Um, but we are also still working on onboarding our student reps and we will get a meeting together with them to help clarify what the expectations are before we invite them to our board meeting in. And I just want to make more comp provide more compliments. I think that this is my fourth year on the board and of course I had an extensive history with the school district previously, but um I think that our current board, our board finance and budget committee and our current staff have put together the best budget I've seen in those four years. I think it's very comprehensive and responsive to things people have been asking us about. And I I just want to give
078you congratulations on this because it was a huge job and I know that we're going to keep on improving and and providing more for students and I'm excited about it. It's just the beginning. But I thank you very much for the work you've done. It's huge. Um I just have a few things. Just a reminder that we scheduled our retreat for August 13th. Um, that will be a full day event. So, be sure to block out your calendar for that. You should have an event invite from Sherry or um if you have any agenda items for that that you want to cover or discuss, let us know ahead of time. We can plan. Um, also just a reminder to get your self-evaluation done. I know that not everyone's finished it yet. I heard back from
079Wagda. If you want me to resend you the link, I can do that. I >> Okay. Um, we want to try to get that done before retreat and then she needs the window of time to get the results back to us. Um, so just work on that if you haven't done it. Um and um over summer I just have had several meetings with staff members following up on some of the correspondence which I will mention in a second. Um I think that like my perspective on some of the communication that was mentioned actually this evening was different I think than some of the staff received it. And so it was an opportunity for me to explain my perspective on, you know, what stepping up meant in a financial sense to me. Um, but regardless, it's
080been a good opportunity to listen to our staff and um, just learn how we can collaborate and support them better. I think that budget season always reminds me that we've sacrificed a lot over the past couple years to get to where we are right now. Um, and and that includes, you know, the people within our system and it's been years and years of cutbacks and changes. And so, it's just been a good opportunity for me to just reconnect through some personal meetings um, and just learn how, you know, how how the path forward is going to look together. um as we make commitments financially. So, uh that's all of my supporting. Okay. Um jumping into correspondence, which sort of relates with my uh board report. So, we did have one email to the board regarding
081the OSPI summer pilot program um for several open doors programs throughout the state of which our very own Cupville Academy participated in. Um the summary brief of this pilot program is available on the OSPI website and the success of this pilot program was due to the work of our staff and community partners and the summer pilot provides data to advocate for the benefits of a yearround model for students. Um, as I briefly mentioned in my board report, we had four emails from staff members regarding concerns of workload, um, extracurricular involvement, class sizes, and prep time at the middle and high school. Um, while looking at how our staff can feel more supported both mentally and physically that I addressed during our report. So that was all of our correspondence. Let them miss if anything. Okay,
082moving on to old business. Uh we have three policies on old business. These have been discussed at our June workshop and approved for first reading at our June board meeting and are now coming for second reading um on old business. If you want to start with the motion, >> I would move to approve all three policies 3520, 3143, and 2110 for final adoption. >> I second the motion. >> It's been moved and seconded to approve all three policies, items A, B, and C under old business for adoption. Is there any debate? not debate, but I just want to comment again for those who are listening and are not present that we've gone over these in great detail at our workshop meetings and I have appreciated that. I think that our policy work has been great
083this year and and very thorough. And uh again, 3143 was impacted by um a recent House bill that just took effect. Um, it's one of a number, but I think that the change is minor. So, we will review that change and hopefully it's small enough that we can even pass it through the confirmed agenda, but at this time we need to have it. >> Sounds great. Any other faith? It's been moved and seconded to approve all three policies for adoption. All those in favor? >> All those opposed? Motion carries. All right, bringing us into new business. Um, the first item of business is a public hearing for the Coupe Bell School District regarding the 2025 through 2026 budget and the 2024 through 2025 general fund budget extension. So um any person may appear at the
084budget hearing and be heard for or against any part of such budget. At this time the podia the podium is open for the budget hearing. Okay. Hearing nothing. We'll move on to um approval of resolution 2025-07 which is approval of the 2425 budget extension for the general fund. >> I'll move to approve resolution 2025-07 approving the budget extension for the general fund. >> Second. It's been moved and seconded to approve resolution 2025-07 2024 through 2025 budget extension for the general fund. Is there any debate? >> Representation hearing none. All those in favor? >> All those opposed? Motion carries. Moving on to item C of new business, which is approving resolution 2025-08, which is the 2025 through 2026 budget. >> I move to approve resolution 202508 to adopt the 202526 budget. >> Second. It's been moved
085and seconded to approve resolution 2025-08 2025 through 2026 budget there any debate? >> I don't have debate but I just wanted to comment. I know I don't even need to make this comment because she will do it but um there's a lot of potential um improvements and enhancements that are proposed in the budget later on if we get the kids and things happen the way they are. I just want to make sure that we have an opportunity to hear about those at the board level before they occur just to make sure that we're still all on the same page. I know you will do that anyway, but I just wanted to comment. Really grateful for the the way that you so clearly laid out what is in there, the decisions that still need to be
086made with in that decision- making capacity. And I don't know, I just uh have a lot of trust in you as the CEO of our organization here and I'm really looking forward to what you do with the resources that we have together. I go back to our policy which is 6200 talks about the district's annual budget is tangible evidence of the board's commitment toward fulfilling the aims and objectives of the instructional program and providing for the efficient and effective operation of the district. And we've talked a lot about, you know, how how to take a plan that we have for the work that we want to do and then align it to how we're actually spending our money. And the and the work that we, you know, want to accomplish in the future. And I
087think that you've heard that so clear and that I feel like we've had such good conversations and collaborations around that. And I just I always kind of go back to your, you know, hope and I and I feel that so much like I I feel so much hope for for how we're organizing and working towards our goals, which is good. Thank you. >> Yeah. And I'm just grateful, sorry to make one more comment, but um it feels like after years of those sacrifices that we've said are going to lead to something good eventually we're couldn't go sooner. We'll see how it goes. Thank you. Any other debates? All right, it's been moved and seconded. All those in favor? >> I. >> All those opposed? >> Motion carries. All right, that is the end of our
088meeting. We are adjourned. Thank you so much for coming.