[1. Call to order]
[00:00:07]
>> PRESIDENT: WELCOME TO OUR FIRST STUDY SESSION OF 2023. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE JANUARY NIGHT 2023 STUDY SESSION. AND CHRIS CARLSON IS EXCUSED AS WELL AS
[1. Budget Process]
OUR TWO STUDENT REPS. WITH THAT WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT TO THE BUDGET PROCESS AND I WILL PASS THIS OFF TO SUPERINTENDENT HOLMEN.>> SPEAKER: I WILL TAKE IT FROM THERE. THANK YOU.
EVERYBODY I HOPE YOU HAD A GOOD NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY AND CELEBRATIONS . WE ARE RIGHT BACK AT IT IN THE NEW YEAR.
TONIGHT WE DO BRING YOU TO COMPONENTS FOR THE STUDY SESSION THIS EVENING. FIRST IS A BUDGET UPDATE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ALL THINKING IN SIMILAR WAYS, HAVING SIMILAR INFORMATION AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE BUDGET SEASON. THE SECOND PART OF THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT IS REALLY FOCUSED ON THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE OVERALL STRATEGIC PLAN PROCESS AND THE BUDGET PROCESS. WE WANT TO GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM YOU AND THEN WHAT INFORMATION WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR OUR EXTENDED STUDY SESSION IN MARCH KNOWING THIS WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR US THERE. SO, ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT POSTHUMUS WILL WALK US THROUGH THE BUDGET DATE TO BEGIN OUR
STUDY SESSION. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TONIGHT WERE GOING TO REVIEW OUR BUDGET OUTLOOK AND ASSUMPTIONS AND LOOK AT BUDGET AND STRATEGIC OUT DAILY IMPACTS AND LOOK AT THE NEXT STEP AND A REMINDER AS I ALWAYS DO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET HOW IT CONNECTS TO OUR OPERATIONAL DIRECTIONS WE HAVE PLANNING WHICH DISCUSSES AND DISCLOSES ASSUMPTIONS AND WE MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE ARE DEVELOPING A BUDGET IT PROVIDES THIS WITH THE DISTRICT AND THEN PROVIDES NECESSARY INFORMATION TO THE BOARD ON MATTERS THAT IMPACT THE BUDGET. WE SHARED AN ENROLLMENT UPDATE WITH THE BOARD IN OCTOBER AND SO, I THINK THIS SLIDE IS FAMILIAR TO YOU. WE HAVE OUR OFFICIAL OCTOBER ONE COUNT OF IT WAS 30,000 THIS WAS A HEADCOUNT NUMBER AND IT IS DOWN SLIGHTLY FROM THE PRIOR YEAR OF 130 STUDENTS. YOU CAN SEE OUR ENROLLMENT WAS PEAKED PRE-PANDEMIC IN THE FALL. WE ARE DOWN 677 STUDENT SINCE FALL OF 19. SO, EVEN THOUGH THAT LAST SLIDE TALKS ABOUT HEADCOUNT, WE ARE FUNDED ON OUR AVERAGE ANNUAL FTE WHICH IS FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT. THAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF TIME THAT EACH STUDENT ATTENDS SCHOOL.
THAT STUDENT FTE DRIVES OUR FUNDING. DRIVES ARE STATE REVENUE. WE ARE LOOKING AT FTE NOT HEADCOUNT AND THAT IS OUR KEY DRIVER OF EXPENDITURES. THIS LAYS OUT WHERE OUR ACTUAL, THE FIRST COLUMN IS OUR FTE FROM LAST YEAR, 21-2022 WE HAD A LITTLE OVER 30,000 STUDENTS. WE PLANNED ON A DECREASE IN 22-23 WHEN WE PUT THE BUDGET TOGETHER AND WE EXPECTED 29,330 STUDENTS. JUST A REMINDER THAT WE ALWAYS BUDGET CONSERVATIVELY BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT COMMITTING BOTH REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES IN CASE THOSE STUDENTS DON'T SHOW UP. WE DO PROVIDE CONTINGENCY IN OUR BUDGET SHOULD THE ACTUAL ENROLLMENT THE HIGHER THAN WHAT WE PLAN ON. THAT IS IN FACT WHAT DID HAPPEN IF YOU LOOK AT THE THIRD COLUMN. OUR ACTUAL ANNUAL FTE FOR THIS YEAR WE ARE EXPECTING IT TO BE 29,721 STUDENTS. IT'S AN INCREASE OF 391 FTE FROM THE BUDGET. JUST A REMINDER AS YOU KIND OF HEARD, THE ENROLLMENT, WHILE OUR DISTRICT DID NOT SEE A SIGNIFICANT ENROLLMENT DECLINE AS SOME OTHER DISTRICTS IN KING COUNTY WE ARE STILL SEEING IF YOU COMPARE THE VERY LAST COLUMN IT SHOWS WHILE WE ARE UP 391 FROM OUR PROJECTIONS THE VERY LAST COLUMN SHOWS THE CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR. SO, IN ELEMENTARY WE ARE DOWN 380 STUDENTS. WE WERE ABOVE OUR BUBBLE, IT IS GOING THROUGH THE
[00:05:06]
HIGH SCHOOL RIGHT NOW. WE ARE UP 391 STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL.OVERALL 209 DOWN IN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THEN OUR ALA PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES ONLINE HIGH SCHOOL IS DOWN 130 STUDENTS. OVERALL DOWN 300. OUR KINDERGARTEN CLASS THIS YEAR WAS ABOUT 2000. A LITTLE OVER 2000 STUDENTS. THAT IS THE SMALLEST KINDERGARTEN CLASS WE HAVE HAD SINCE 2014. WE WERE DOWN LAST FALL ABOUT 150 STUDENTS PRE-PANDEMIC. OUR KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT WAS AROUND 2300 STUDENTS. WE ARE NOT BEING THOSE COME BACK IN FIRST GRADE. THAT IS SOME THINGS WE ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON. WHETHER IT IS LOWER BIRTH RATE IN KING COUNTY ETC. AGAIN I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON THE OTHER IMPACTS WE ARE SEEING FROM OUR PLANNED BUDGET. AS I MENTIONED 391 STUDENTS HIGHER IN BASIC EDUCATION. 77 STUDENT LOWER IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. SO THE IMPACT ON US AGAIN WHEN THERE IS A CHANGE IN STUDENTS WE RECEIVE MORE REVENUE FROM THE STATE. WE ALSO HAVE TO HIRE MORE STAFF. THE NET DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR REVENUE INCREASE AND THE COST OF OUR STAFFING CHANGES IS A $600,000 GAIN IMPACT. THE OTHER CHANGE FROM BUDGET RELATED TO STAFF IS OUR LABOR CONTRACT AGREEMENTS. WE HAD BARGAINED WITH I THINK FOUR OF OUR CLASSIFIED GROUPS THIS YEAR AND SO THAT IS ABOUT A $1.5 MILLION COST. AND THEN THE THIRD ITEM THAT WE KNOW ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS WE APPLIED FOR A DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH GRANT FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR FIVE CASE MANAGEMENT POSITIONS THAT WE HAD FOR ONE YEAR FOR THIS YEAR AND THEY APPROVED A FUNDING . WE RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THEM LAST YEAR AND THEY APPROVED ADDITIONAL FUNDING ABOUT $400,000. WE DO A FULL REVIEW OF OUR BUDGET, A MIDYEAR BUDGET REVIEW THAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF JANUARY AND DURING FEBRUARY . WE WILL BRING BACK ADDITIONAL IMPACTS THAT WE KNOW OF AFTER THAT MIDYEAR PREVIEW. WE SHARE WHEN WE DEVELOP THE BUDGET IN JUNE WE SHARE OUR ASSUMPTIONS FOR THE FOUR YEAR BUDGET OUTLOOK AND I WANTED TO SHARE SOME UPDATED ASSUMPTIONS THAT - THE NEXT SLIDE I'LL SHOW YOU THE DETAIL. THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL NOT PROVIDE US MORE FUNDING OR WILL CUT FUNDING. NO ADDITIONAL PANDEMIC RELIEF FUNDS. AND IN THE DISTRICT AS WE SHARED WITH THE BOARD ALSO IS OUR FUND BALANCE WAS HIGHER THAN PROJECT DID DUE TO ONE-TIME CARRYOVER AND GRANTS AND BUILDING BUDGETS. WE WILL BE SPENDING THOSE ONE-TIME CARRYOVER FUNDS AND USING $11.7 MILLION OF THAT FUND BALANCE. OUR PLANNED USE OF FUND BALANCE WE HAVE THE BEGINNING FUND BALANCE OF 87 MILLION AND WE EXPECT TO END AT 38 MILLION. AGAIN WHEN WE DO A DETAILED REVIEW WE WILL PROVIDE UPDATES ON THOSE NUMBERS. THIS CHART HAS MORE DETAILED INFORMATION AND SO THE FIRST COLUMN IS LAST YEAR'S FINAL INFORMATION. OUR 2122 ACTUAL AND YOU CAN SEE WE ENDED THE YEAR WITH 87.4 MILLION THAT 57.4+30 MILLION AND WE DID SPEND MORE THAN WE BROUGHT IN WHICH WAS PLANNED.
THAT NUMBER WAS LOWER THAN PLANNED LAST YEAR BECAUSE IT WAS UNDERSTATED IN A SENSE THAT THE STATE PROVIDED SOME ONE-TIME STABILIZATION MONEY. WE RECEIVED ENROLLMENT STABILIZATION AND WE HAD ANOTHER H GRANT LAST YEAR AND WE RECEIVED THOSE LAST DOLLARS. WITHOUT THOSE ONE-TIME MONIES FROM THE STATE THAT DIFFERENTIAL WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. THE NEXT TWO COLUMNS, THE 2023 BUDGET COLUMN AGAIN, THE PLAN THAT WE BROUGHT TO THE BOARD IN JUNE AND WHAT WE ADOPTED IN AUGUST WAS THE BEGINNING FUND BALANCE. THAT WAS REVENUES OF 519 AND EXPENDITURES AT 547 FOUR AND ENDING BALANCE OF 50 MILLION AND A PLANNED USE OF FUND
[00:10:03]
BALANCE OF 27.8 MILLION. WE HAD INCREASED OUR FUND BALANCE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND WE HAD A PLAN TO SPIN THAT DOWN.THE NEXT COLUMN, WE STARTED THE YEAR WITH 87POINT FOUR. WE HAVE 497 MILLION IN REVENUE AND THAT IS LOWER THAN THE BUDGET BECAUSE WE HAVE BUILT IN CONTINGENCIES IN THE BUDGET.
THERE'S 20 MILLION IN BOTH REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES FOR GRANTS THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE AND HAVE CONTINGENCIES FOR THAT. ALEX INTEGERS ASSUME THAT ONE USE OF ONE-TIME CARRYOVER FOR AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 47.5. AGAIN PLANNED USE IS HIGHER SO 39.9 MILLION. AND THEN THE NEXT THREE YEARS OUR PROJECTIONS AFTER THAT AND THESE PROJECTIONS AGAIN AS WE SHARED IN JUNE YOU CAN SEE THAT WE WILL IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR FIVE PERCENT MAINTAIN OUR MINIMUM FUND BALANCE OF FIVE PERCENT WHICH IS ABOUT 27 MILLION. WE WILL NEED TO BRING THOSE REVENUES BACK INTO ALIGNMENT, EXPENDITURES BACK INTO ALIGNMENT WITH REVENUES. YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT OCCURS IN THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR AND IT REQUIRES A REDUCTION OF ABOUT 15 MILLION AND THAT IS THE LAST ROW THERE. AND THEN A SMALL REDUCTION THE NEXT YEAR OF $3 MILLION IN ORDER TO KEEP THOSE EXPENDITURES ALIGNED WITH REVENUES. THIS NUMBER IS UPDATED FROM JUNE IN THE SENSE THAT WE HAVE THE GOVERNORS MAJORITY OF OUR BUDGET IS SALARY AND BUDGETS AND EVERY YEAR WE NEED TO MAKE AN ASSUMPTION OF WHAT THE SALARY POOL IS THE FUTURE YEARS AND OUR ORIGINAL ESTIMATE IN JUNE WAS AT TWO PERCENT EACH YEAR. THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET HAS PUT OUT A 4.5 PERCENT COLA FOR 2324 AND TWO PERCENT THE NEXT YEAR.
THIS FORECAST ASSUMES THAT. TYPICALLY THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET ISN'T WHAT THE FINAL BUDGET WILL BE. BUT WE ARE GOING TO USE THAT HIGHER ASSUMPTION RIGHT NARROW UNTIL THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE PUT OUT THEIR PROPOSALS AND THEN WE WILL UPDATE THAT. A REMINDER FOR EVERYONE PERCENT IN STATE FUNDING: A COST THE DISTRICT 1 MILLION TO 1.5 MILLION IN LOCAL COSTS. FOREIGN HALF PERCENT COLA WILL COST THE DISTRICT AROUND FIVE TO $6 MILLION. THAT THE STATE DOES NOT FUNDS.
AND YOU HAVE SEEN THIS CHART BEFORE. AS YOU CAN SEE IN 1819 THROUGH 2021 WE WERE BUILDING UP OUR FUND BALANCE . RIGHT NOW STATE FUNDING CANNOT KEEP UP WITH THE REQUIRED COST WE GOT THAT NEGATIVE PHYSICAL GAP AND WE WILL BRING THAT BACK INTO
ALIGNMENT. >>> THIS IS A SLIDE THAT I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE SHOWED IN A WHILE SO I WANTED TO REMIND THE GAP AND WHAT THE STATE PROVIDES AND WHAT IT COST TO PROVIDE SERVICES AS TO WHAT OUR COMMUNITIES EXPECT. THE CHART, THE GREEN BAR REPRESENTS STATE FUNDED AND THE RED BAR IS WHAT THE STATE DOES NOT FUNDS BUT WHAT THE PROGRAM AND THE DISTRICT PROVIDES. I WON'T GO THROUGH EVERYTHING IN DETAIL BUT FOR EXAMPLE CERTIFICATED STAFFING HAS ABOUT 200 ALMOST $30 MILLION THAT THE STATE ONLY FUNDS 75 MILLION OF WHAT IT TAKES. ANOTHER AREA IS ATHLETICS. THE STATE DOES NOT PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE DISTRICT FOR ATHLETICS AND THOSE COSTS ARE 100 PERCENT WORN BY THE DISTRICT AND THAT IS WHAT OUR LOCAL LEVEES ARE USED FOR. YES?
>>.WE SPEND ABOUT 4 MILLION AND THE STATE ONLY FUNDS ABOUT 1 MILLION OF THAT. IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF RED. YEAH. A LITTLE BIT OF GREEN. THANKS. SO, AND REVENUE NEUTRAL I GET QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT THAT IS ALL GREEN. THOSE ARE GRANT PROGRAMS SUCH AS TITLE WHERE WE SPEND WHAT WE BRING IN AND REVENUE SO THERE IS NO LOCAL FUNDING. OUR CHILDCARE
[00:15:01]
PROGRAMS OR NUTRITION SERVICES ALL OF THOSE ARE WHAT WE CALL REVENUE NEUTRAL PROGRAMS AND THAT IS THE LAST LINE.>>> AGAIN THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE SHARED BEFORE A REMINDER THAT 86 PERCENT OF OUR BUDGET IS COMMITTED TO STAFF SALARY AND BUDGETS. 14 PERCENT IS STILL NONSTAFF SUPPLIED SERVICES AND EXTRA TIME. PART OF OUR NONSTAFF EXPENDITURE BUDGET IS WE HAVE ALLOCATIONS TO OUR DEPARTMENT AND DIVISIONS. THEY HAVE A TERMED DISCRETIONARY BUDGET. THE REALITY IS IT IS ABOUT 27.3 MILLION AND OUR BUILDING BUDGETS HAVE FUNDS THAT THEY HAVE TO SPEND AND EVEN THOUGH THE TERM DISCRETIONARY IS USED IT'S REALLY NOT, 100 PERCENT OF THOSE FUNDS ARE NOT DISCRETIONARY. OUR BUDGETS HAVE TO PAY FOR COPIES. OUR DEPARTMENT BUDGETS HAVE TO PAY FOR TESTING. THEY HAVE TWO, SPECIAL ED HAS TO PAY FOR CONTRACTUAL AGENTS. YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR ELECTION COST. OUR ANNUAL FACILITY INSPECTIONS AND REPAIR COSTS. SO WHILE THOSE ARE FUNDS THAT ARE IN NON-SALARIES AND BENEFITS THEY ARE STILL REQUIRED NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT. WHAT WE, AS WE PREPARED FOR OUR BUDGET, WE ARE, WE KNOW THAT AS BUDGET CUTS ARE COMING UP WE KNOW THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE CAN BEGIN DOING TO BEGIN PREPARING. WE ARE ASKING THE DEPARTMENTS TO AGAIN CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THEIR BUDGET MANAGEMENT TO IDENTIFY ACCESS CAPACITY POTENTIALLY IDENTIFY SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES. IS THERE ANYTHING WE ARE PAYING FOR THAT WE TRULY DON'T NEED? REIMAGINE HOW WE CAN USE CURRENT RESOURCES TO SUPPORT ADDITIONAL NEEDS FOR EXAMPLE WHEN WE CHANGED FROM LET'S TALK ON PARENTS WHERE THAT WAS A YEAR WAY THAT WE REALLOCATED RESOURCES. AGAIN IDENTIFYING PRIORITY REDUCTIONS AND NEEDS. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE ARE HAVING OUR DEPARTMENTS WORK ON. SO, CONTINUED CHALLENGES AND KEY MESSAGES IS THAT ENROLLMENT, OUR SUPERINTENDENT HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY AND HE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN HIS PRESS CONFERENCE. ENROLLMENT IS DECLINING THROUGHOUT THE REGION AND IT IMPACTS SCHOOLS AND ARE GOING TO NEED CONTINUED
>> SPEAKER: SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE ARE REQUIRED TO PUT AN X NEAR THE CODE WHEN A STUDENT LEAVES THE DISTRICT.
I DON'T HAVE THE STATISTICS HERE FOR OUR DISTRICT BUT I KNOW WHAT THEY SHARED TODAY ON THE PRESENTATION WAS THEIR TOP REASON WAS MOVING OUT OF STATE. SO, THAT WAS WHAT WE SHARED TODAY STATEWIDE. SO, MAKING DIFFERENT DECISIONS. WE SHARED THIS BEFORE BUT WHEN ENROLLMENT DECLINES FUNDING, THE DISTRICT LOOSE FUNDING IMMEDIATELY BUT EXPENSES DECLINED AT A SLOWER RATE. THE EXAMPLE IF YOUR CLASS DIES, YOUR CLASSROOM IS ONCE THE STUDENT MOVES OUT OF THE CLASSROOM, YOU STILL HAVE THAT TEACHER. YOU CAN'T SAVE ON THAT TEACHER. AND THAT'S A CHALLENGE. OUR FIXED COST CONTINUES TO INCREASE. 80 PERCENT OF INCREASES ARE SALARY AND IF IT'S. STATE FUNDING HAS NOT CAUGHT UP WITH OUR ACTUAL COSTS IN THE STATE CONTINUES TO CREATE NEW REQUIREMENTS WITHOUT REQUISITE FUNDING. AS WE DO EVERY YEAR WERE WORKING WITH LEGISLATURES BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE THE MESSAGE THAT WHEN THEY PUT BILLS TOGETHER THEY NEED TO HAVE THIS ANALYSIS AND WHAT THE IMPACT OF THOSE COSTS ARE TWO DISTRICTS. AND THEN AS ENROLLMENT DECLINES AND INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS GET SMALLER IT REDUCES EFFICIENCY IN OUR STAFFING AND PROGRAMS. IT IS CHALLENGING TO MAINTAIN THOSE PROGRAMS. AND THEN INFLATION.
[00:20:04]
WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO BUY WITH THE FUNDS WE DO HAVE. AS A DISTRICT OF COURSE WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SPENDING OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENTLY. ANY QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THAT SECTION?>> SPEAKER: THE NEXT PORTION OF THIS IS REALLY THAT LOOKAHEAD AS WE KNOW WE HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT TECHNICALLY EXPIRED AND WE ARE GOING TO MAINTAIN THAT FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
WE HAVE BUDGET WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO AND WE KNOW THAT ALIGNING THOSE TWO COMPONENTS ARE CRITICAL. BECAUSE AS YOU IDENTIFY STRATEGIC PRIORITIES YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHERE THOSE FUNDS ARE GOING TO COME FROM. AS WE ARE REALIGNING OUR BUDGET THAT REALLY DOES GO HAND-IN-HAND.
AS WE ENTER INTO THE WORK THE BOARD ALREADY HAS THE STATED VALUES FOR MUCH OF WHAT WE ARE GOING TO ENTER INTO. FIRST AND FOREMOST IS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS. ENSURING THAT THE STUDENTS HAVE THE PROGRAMS, THE SERVICES AND INSTRUCTION THEY NEED TO ACCOMPLISH THE RESULTS THAT THE BOARD HAS INDICATED IN THE MANNER TO WHAT THE BOARD EXPECTS THOSE OUTCOMES TO BE ACHIEVED. WELL-BEING FOR BOTH OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF. YOU HAVE ARTICULATED THE VALUES IN THE RESULTS3 AROUND HOW STUDENTS SHOULD BE EXPERIENCING THEIR SCHOOL. AND THE OUTCOMES WE EXPECT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THEN AROUND THE STAFF AND THE CONDITIONS AND EXPERIENCES THAT YOU EXPECT FOR THE STAFF. OE E- 14 SPEAKS TO ISSUES OF EQUITY THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED THROUGH THE PROCESS.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENTS REALLY THROUGHOUT THE BOARD'S POLICY BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT COMMUNITY, STAFF AND STUDENTS IT IS SPOKEN TO IN THE BOARD POLICY. LONG-TERM PHYSICAL LIABILITY IS SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD HAS SPOKEN TO IN OE E- FIVE AND OE E- SIX WITH STAKEHOLDERS BEING CLEAR WITH OUR STAFF AND COMMUNITY AND THEN OE 14 WHIZ WITH TRANSPARENCY AGAIN SPOKEN TO IN BOTH OE NINE AND OE 14.
>> MAY ASK A QUESTION? I NOTICED THAT RESULTS ONE IS NOT
LISTED UNDER THE VALUES? >> SPEAKER: YES, IT SHOULD LAND IN ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. WE HAVE UNINTENTIONALLY TALKED ABOUT THESE TWO EFFORTS PREVIOUSLY AND AS WE KNOW FUNDING AND STRATEGIC PRIORITIES TRULY ARE PART AND PARCEL. FUNDING OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES IS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF OUR BUDGET EFFORTS AND IDENTIFYING THE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES WHILE ALSO WRITE SIDING OUR BUDGET AND EXPENDITURES AS BARBARA TALKED ABOUT PRESENTS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY. AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS PROCESS WHILE GIVEN TODAY'S NUMBERS THERE ARE GOING TO BE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO REALLY IDENTIFY THOSE PRIORITIES THAT WE HOLD AS A DISTRICT THAT WE BELIEVE WILL ACCOMPLISH THE RESULTS THAT THE BOARD HAS SPOKEN TO. THERE ARE TWO DISTINCT PIECES THAT WE DO NEED TO BE ABLE TO CHECK THE BOX AND SAY WE HAVE ACCOMPLISH THESE. IN THE SHORT TERM WE DO HAVE A BUDGET THAT NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD FOR THE 23 -24 SCHOOL YEAR. THAT IS A REQUIREMENT BUT THAT ALSO NEEDS TO BE INFORMED THROUGH STAKEHOLDER INPUT. OUR WORK REGARDING OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND ENSURE THAT IT ALIGNS WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF MAINTAINING OR REDUCING EXPENDITURES FOR THE NEXT BUDGET. WHEN I SAY THAT REQUIREMENT, IF WE WERE REQUIRED TO SPEND MORE NEXT YEAR IT MEANS WE WOULD BE SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR MORE REDUCTIONS IN THE FUTURE. WE REALLY MINDFUL ABOUT WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED THIS YEAR HELPS US IN THE LONG TERM EFFORT. AND THEN IN THE LONG TERM TO PUT A DATE TO IT IT REALLY IS AROUND
[00:25:01]
JUNE 2024 TO HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS CYCLE WHERE WE HAVE A NEW STRATEGIC PRIORITY AND A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN DEVELOPED. OUR BUDGET IS ALIGNED WITH THAT STRATEGIC PLAN AND THOSE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AS WE THEN LAUNCH INTO THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR. THAT'S WHEN I TALK ABOUT SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM PIER THOSE ARE THEBENEFITS I'M TALKING ABOUT . AS WE ENTER INTO THIS WORK THE BOARD HAS TALKED ABOUT YOUR VALUES REGARDING EQUITY IN OE- 14. WITH THE STAFF WE CONTINUE OUR WORK AND JOURNEY AROUND CONSIDERING ISSUES OF EQUITY.LINKED AT THE BOTTOM HEREE THIS IS WHERE I TOOK THIS SNIPPET FROM BUT I THOUGHT THAT IN THIS IS FOCUSED ON BUDGET EFFORTS IN REGARDS TO GOVERNMENTAL AND PUBLIC AGENCIES. I THOUGHT THIS QUOTE WAS UNIQUE AND INTERESTING GIVEN WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THIS IS BUDGETING FOR EQUITY REQUIRES BUILDING A BUDGET FROM THE GROUND UP FUNDING GOALS NOT DEPARTMENT MEASURING RESULTS AND INCLUDING INPUT FROM MULTIPLE VOICES EQUITABLE VOTING HELPS IMPROVE OUTCOME FOR ALL THE COMMUNITY NOT JUST THE MOST INFLUENTIAL AND POWERFUL". WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT WERE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IT IS TO REDESIGN THE BUDGET, ALIGN WITH OUR PRIORITIES AND TO ENSURE THAT ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND OUR STUDENTS CAN ACHIEVE THE RESULTS THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED GOOD THE ARTICLE GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT KEY COMPONENTS TO BUDGET PRACTICES. ONE, MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE TAKING YOUR BUDGET INFORMATION OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE ALL TALKED ABOUT IT AND IT'S A VALUE THE BOARD HAS TALKED ABOUT SO IT IS NOT A SURPRISE THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT AS WE TALK ABOUT EQUITABLE PRACTICES. HAVING REAL CONVERSATIONS. NOT JUST TALKING AT THE 30,000 FOOT LEVEL BUT HAVING REAL NUTS AND BOLTS CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITIES IS AN IMPORTANT PART TO ACCOMPLISHING GROWTH EQUITY AND TRANSPARENCY. THEN THEY TALK ABOUT USING ENGAGEMENT TO MPOWER. TRULY ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY CAN MPOWER THEM TO DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING, FEEL CONNECTED TO WHAT THE DISTRICT IS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH AND WOEFULLY FEEL MORE CONNECTED TO OUR STUDENTS
AND THEIR EDUCATION. >>> I TOOK SOME TIME TO LOOK AT OUR REGIONAL DISTRICT AS THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT BUDGETING AND EQUITY DO THEY HAVE MODELS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT AND CONSIDER? IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WHAT IS WRITTEN DOWN DOES NOT ALWAYS TRANSLATE TO 100 PERCENT PRACTICE. WE KNOW THIS IS WHAT DISTRICTS ARE WORKING TOWARDS AND STRIVING TOWARDS. SEATTLE HAS WHAT THEY CALL AN EQUITY TIER STAFFING MODEL WHERE THEY LOOK AT CERTAIN FACT THERE'S THAT ESSENTIALLY CREATE ADDITIONAL NEEDS AT SCHOOLS. THAT IS HOW THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT THEIR STAFFING MODELS AND AS WE KNOW STAFFING IS PREDOMINANTLY THE LARGEST PART OF ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET. SO THIS HELPS THEM ABOUT HOW ARE WE STAFFING
>> SPEAKER: AS THEY LOOK AT NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT FALL UNDER FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH. THAT'S A FACTOR THEY ARE CONSIDERING. STUDENTS ARE SERVED THROUGH MULTILINGUAL PROGRAMS. STUDENT FACTORS THAT TYPICALLY WOULD BE CONSIDERED STUDENTS THAT MAY BE FURTHEST FROM EDUCATIONAL JUSTICE. I BELIEVE THEY USE RACE AS PART OF THAT FACT THERE AS WELL.
THAT'S THE WAY THEY LOOK AT IT.
>>.AT IT IT DID NOT LOOK, IT WASN'T ANYTHING THAT WAS SURPRISING IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT. I THINK IT IS JUST THAT TRANSPARENCY OF TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY ARE DOING THOSE THINGS. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT DEVELOPING A STAFFING MANUAL FOR WASHINGTON THAT WOULD TALK ABOUT SOME OF THIS BECAUSE WE MAY NOT CALL WHAT WE DO AND EQUITY STAFFING MODEL BUT WE DO DIFFERENTIATE OUR STAFFING FOR SCHOOL BASED ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS. THAT'S A MODEL THAT SEATTLE HAS AND
[00:30:07]
HIGHLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS ADOPTED WHAT THEY CALL AN EQUITY LENS APPROACH AND THAT IS EMBEDDED IN THERE POLICIES AND IT IS A SET OF QUESTIONS THAT REGARDLESS WHAT THE ACTIVITY IS IT IS THE QUESTION THAT THEY EXPECT LEADERS TO USE AS THEY ARE MAKING CONSIDERATIONS AND DECISIONS.NORTH SHORE HAS A RELATIVELY LINK BE EQUITY THAT THEY DEVELOPED IN 2019 THAT AGAIN LEADS TO ASKING A QUESTION, CONSIDERING WHO IS AFFECT DID, CONSIDERING STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT. IT MAY NOT SPECIFICALLY CALL OUT BUDGETING BUT IT TALKS ABOUT THIS IS REALLY HOW THEY WANT TO DO THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT. AGAIN ANOTHER MODEL THAT A NEIGHBORING DISTRICT HAS IN TERMS OF EQUITY. AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THIS PROCESS WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO BE THOUGHTFUL AND TRANSPARENT ABOUT HOW WE ARE APPROACHING THE WORK AND HOW WE ARE MAKING THOSE CONSIDERATIONS OF EQUITY HERE
IN WASHINGTON. >>> AS I THINK ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ACTUAL PLAN SOMETHING THAT IS WRITTEN DOWN SO THAT IT IS INTERNAL STAFF, THE BOARD, OUR COMMUNITY CAN ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT IS THE PROCESS AND THE TIMELINE THAT WE WILL BE WORKING THROUGH THIS? THOSE FOR SPECIFIC COMPONENTS THAT WILL BE EMBEDDED IN THE PLAN. FIRST IS COMMUNICATION AND AS YOU ALL KNOW COMMUNICATION IS AN ESSENTIAL PIECE TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS TYPE OF EFFORT. MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE AGAIN A WRITTEN COMMUNICATION PLAN THAT PROVIDES FOR CONSISTENCY, ADAPTABILITY AND TIMELY COMMUNICATION OVER THE NEXT PERIOD OF TIME. BEING REALLY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW DO WE COMMUNICATE CURRENT STATE? WHAT IS THE CURRENT SITUATION WE ARE IN AND WHAT IS THE STATE WHERE WE WANT TO BE A STATE WHERE WE HAVE A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN A BUDGET THAT IS ALIGNED WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND ADJUSTED TO ALIGN OUR REVENUES WITH EXPENDITURES. I AM NOT SURE OUR FULL STAKEHOLDER AND COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND THAT. IT IS COMPLEX IN A WAY AND IT TAKES SOME TIME. COMMUNICATION HAS TO BE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE IT DOES TAKE A BIT TO ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PIECES AND COMPONENTS AS TO HOW DO WE GET HERE? WHY ARE WE HERE? WHY DID WE JUST PASS PO LEVY AND NOW WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW TO MAKE REDUCTIONS. THOSE THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS CONGRUENT. SO MAKING SURE WE ARE THOUGHTFUL ON THE WAY THAT WE TALK TO OUR COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDERS. LOOKING AT OUR DIGITAL COMMUNICATION STRATEGY I THINK SCOTT AND HIS TEAM AS THEY DID THE SCHOOL START TIME EFFORT THEY DID A NICE JOB OF DOCUMENTING ALL THE INFORMATION AND I KNOW WE'VE HAD QUITE A BIT OF VIEWS ON THAT. IT HELPS PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MAKE THE HISTORY AND TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT BUT IT IS ALSO SOCIAL MEDIA. MAKING SURE WE ARE CONTINUALLY PUTTING OUT INFORMATION TO HELP PEOPLE IN THIS WORK. AND THEN MAKING SURE THE INFORMATION TO THE STAKEHOLDERS IS ACCESSIBLE WHETHER IT IS METHOD OR MEANS OR HOW THEY ARE RECEIVING THAT INFORMATION OR BEING THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THAT AS WELL. SHANNON, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THE DIFFERENT SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WE ARE USING AS A DISTRICT AND IF YOU SAY IT I WILL REPEAT IT
>> SPEAKER: LET ME SEE IF I CAN REPEAT THAT. TWITTER, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, LINKEDIN AND INSTAGRAM. OKAY, SECOND ELEMENT OF A PLAN MOVING FORWARD IS AROUND INPUT AND FEEDBACK. A COUPLE DIFFERENT TYPES OF INPUT AND FEEDBACK THAT I'M THINKING ABOUT. FIRST IS STAKEHOLDER DIRECT INPUT AND SEEKING RESPONSES ON TOPICS DIRECTED BY STAKEHOLDERS AS OPPOSED TO THOSE DIRECTED BY THE DISTRICT. I THINK IT IS AN IMPORTANT PART FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ASK OUR STAKEHOLDERS
[00:35:02]
ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AND WHAT THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT RATHER THAN JUST ASKING THEM TO TELL US WHAT WE THINK THEY NEED TO HEAR ABOUT. THERE IS A TIME FOR US TO GO TO COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDERS AND SAY HERE'S SOME INFORMATION, PLEASE PROVIDE US INPUT AROUND THAT. AND LASTLY, TARGETED FEEDBACK.INPUT IS AROUND DEVELOPMENT. FEEDBACK IS WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME OPTIONS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON. HERE IS A PACKAGE. THIS IS A PROGRAM, AN IDEA OR OPTION PLEASE GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK AROUND THAT AND REALLY, THOSE ARE ALMOST SEQUENTIAL GOING OUT AND SEEKING INPUT IS AN IMPORTANT PART REALLY TO DEVELOP THE UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE OUR STAKEHOLDERS, WHAT THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT AND WHERE THEY ARE RIGHT NOW GOING THROUGH A PROCESS TO START TO PACKAGE THAT TO GO BACK OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. AND THEN STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT BEING REALLY THOUGHTFUL AROUND THE TYPES OF ENGAGEMENT THAT WE PARTICIPATE IN. LISTENING SESSIONS. THAT'S THAT INPUT FROM OUR STAKEHOLDERS LISTENING THEM TO THEIR EXPERIENCES AND EXPECTATIONS HOPES AND DREAMS RELATED TO OUTCOMES AND EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS.
FOCUS GROUPS. AS THEY STAY FOCUSED ON A SPECIFIC TOPIC AND GETTING VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT THAT IS AND HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS IT RELATES TO THOSE THINGS. USING SURVEYS.
A SURVEY CAN PROVIDE US WITH VERY DIRECT FEEDBACK AROUND SPECIFIC TOPICS. OPEN RESPONSE CAN PROVIDE US WITH INFORMATION THAT MAYBE WE DIDN'T KNOW WE SHOULD BE ASKING ABOUT. AND THEN THE OTHER ACCESS POINT IS THE TWO THOUGHT EXCHANGE. I THANK YOU'VE SEEN NOT USED MORE THIS YEAR THAN EVER BEFORE BUT THOUGHT EXCHANGE TRULY ALLOWS FOR COMMUNITY TO HEAR FROM ONE ANOTHER AND REALLY PROVIDE FEEDBACK AROUND WHAT OTHERS ARE THINKING ABOUT WHICH TRULY DOES ELEVATE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY THOUGHTS AND TOPICS THAT ARE GENERATED FROM COMMUNITY AS OPPOSED TO BEING GENERATED BY THE DISTRICT.
>>.ON THE.[INDISCERNABLE] CHANGE? I DO. RIGHT.
>>.THERE OTHER WAYS FOR THE BOARD TO SEE COMMENTS? A REMINDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TURN THE MIKE'S ON.
>> BOARD MEMBER: WE CAN TURN THE REPORT ON TO SEE THE RAW DATA. I THINK THERE'S 7000 SEVEN.
>> SPEAKER: THAT IS GREAT. YES THERE'S WAYS WE CAN GIVE YOU THE RAW DATA. ONE THING THAT SCOTT DID DIFFERENTLY WITH THIS THOUGHT EXCHANGE THAT I'VE SEEN DONE PREVIOUSLY, THEY WERE ASKED IF YOU ARE A PARENT, STUDENT, STAFF MEMBER OR COMMUNITY. AS STUDENTS WE ARE RESPONDING TO OTHER STUDENT COMMENTS AS OPPOSED TO STUDENTS RESPONDING TO PARENTS AND COMMUNITY AND THEN PARENTS RESPONDING TO PARENTS. IT ALLOWS THE TOOL TO BE A LITTLE MORE NIMBLE.
>>.FOR WHO YOU ARE SO YOU CAN GO THROUGH EITHER ONE. NOT
SUGGESTING ANYONE SHOULD. >> HOPEFULLY DIDN'T HAVE YOUR MIC ON FOR THAT.[LAUGHTER] KIDDING.
>> SPEAKER: THROUGH THIS PROCESS THERE WILL BE ADVISORY
[00:40:01]
SUPPORTS. WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A STRATEGIC ADVISORY LEADERSHIP TEAM WE CALL SALT. IT IS A REPRESENTATIVE GROUP OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS THAT MEETS WITH THE CHARGE OF REALLY CONSIDERING AND INKING ABOUT ISSUES OF CULTURE RELATED TO STRATEGIC PLANNING AND BUDGET. THAT IS A TEAM THAT HAS ALREADY FORMED AND IS ALREADY MEETING AND THEY WILL BE A KEY PART OF MOVING THIS BUDGET WORK BUT ALSO IDENTIFYING STRATEGIC PRIORITIES MOVING FORWARD. WERE GOING TO ESTABLISH A COMMUNITY BUDGET ADVISORY AND THAT IS A TEAM OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT IS WILLING TO SPEND THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND TO THE DEGREE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT. SCHOOL FINANCE.UNDERSTAND SCHOOL FINANCES AS IT RELATES TO LAKE WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT BECAUSE THAT CAN REALLY SERVE US WELL TO HAVE REALLY EDUCATED COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WILL BRING THAT LENDS TO THE CONVERSATION WHO HAVE A DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE AROUND BUDGET. I THINK THAT IS A KEY PIECE TO THIS. SIMILARLY ESTABLISH A STRATEGIC PLAN ADVISORY. WE ALL THOUGHT WHEN THE DOCTOR CONDUCTED THE LAST STRATEGIC PLAN PROCESS. THAT WAS REALLY A LARGE-SCALE ADVISORY PROCESS. ESTABLISHING THAT. THE COMMUNITY BUDGET ADVISORY WILL ESTABLISH THAT SH THAT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER HOPEFULLY SO WE CAN GET ENGAGED WITH THEM THROUGH THE SHORT-TERM BUDGET PROCESS FOR THE UPCOMING BUDGET CYCLE. BUT ALSO SO THEY ARE EDUCATED AND READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE LONG-TERM PROCESS AS WELL. THE STRATEGIC PLAN ADVISORY MORE LIKELY WILL START AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. AS WE THINK ABOUT DOING LISTENING SESSIONS THIS YEAR THAT WILL HELP THEM PREPARE FOR THE WORK NEXT YEAR. I WON'T READ EVERY LAST COMPONENT ON THIS SLIDE. IT SHOULD BE UPLOADED INTO THE BOARD DOCKS YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THAT. REALLY THE INTENT IS TO SAY YOU'RE BEING THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW DO WE WALK THROUGH THIS, DO THE WORK WELL, ENGAGED OUR COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS SO THAT AT THE END OF ALL OF THIS OUR COMMUNITY FEELS LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN INFORMED. THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IF THAT WAS SOMETHING THEY WANTED TO PARTICIPATE IN AND THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE OUTCOMES. AND WHY THE DECISIONS WERE MADE THAT ARE ULTIMATELY MADE THROUGH THIS. AND SO, THIS REALLY STEPS THROUGH SOME KEY BENCHMARKS OVER THE NEXT 18
>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT STEPS ON OUR PART IS THAT WE NEED TO FINALIZE WE HAVE A DRAFT ACTION AND ENGAGEMENT PLAN THAT PUTS SOME OF THE NUTS AND BOLTS TOGETHER INTO SOMETHING. AND THEN WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THEM LIMITATION AND START THIS WORK. IT IS EXCITING WORK TO THINK ABOUT REALLY DEVELOPING PLANS FOR THE FUTURE FOR OUR
[00:45:06]
>> SPEAKER: WHEN YOU SAY THAT WHAT AM I LOOKING AT?
>> PURPOSE OF DOING ALL OF THIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE PRIORITIES THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND SO IT WOULDN'T BE FAIR FOR ME TO SIT HERE AND SAY THESE THINGS ARE BEING TARGETED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY REALLY AREN'T THINGS THAT ARE BEING TARGETED RIGHT NOW. WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE FLEXIBILITY OVER WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT BARBARA SHOWED THE VISUAL OF WHAT IS STATE-FUNDED AND WHAT IS DISTRICT FUNDED . WE HAVE THE AUTONOMY OVER THOSE THINGS THAT ARE LOCALLY FUNDED. NOT EVERYTHING IS LOCALLY FUNDED. SO, IT IS UNDERSTANDING THAT AND THEN PROBABLY BEFORE THAT IS UNDERSTANDING WHAT DO WE ACTUALLY WANT TO ACCOMPLISH WITH OUR NEXT STRATEGIC PLAN.
IF THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH THAN THIS IS HOW WE HAVE TO ALIGN RESOURCES AND THAT WILL START TO IDENTIFY THE AREAS WHERE WE CAN MAKE REDUCTIONS OR WE NEED TO MAKE REDUCTIONS. IT IS A DIFFICULT PROCESS BECAUSE THERE ISN'T A PROGRAM OR A SERVICE OR ANYTHING THAT IS OCCURRING THAT IS JUST FLUFF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I THINK THAT IS WHY STARTING TODAY GIVING IT AN 18 MONTH PROCESS TO GIVE IT WORK
THROUGH THAT WILL WORK WELL. >>
>> SPEAKER: NUTRITION SERVICES FALL WITHIN THE NEUTRAL. THEY SET THEIR LUNCH FEES WITH THE STATE FUNDING PLUS FEDERAL FUNDING OFFSETS THE ACTUAL EXPENDITURE. THAT WOULD NOT HAVE AN IMPACT ON THEIR COSTS. RIGHT. IT REALLY REDUCES THE FEES THAT OUR PARENTS ARE PAYING.
>> THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND STATE LEVEL WOULD BE FOR THEM TO SUPPORT THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AND THAT IS SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER BILLY UNDER STUDDED. UNDER FUNDED.
>> THE BUDGET ESTIMATE I'VE SEEN CALLS FOR REQUIRED REDUCTION TO START IN THE 2024-25 BUDGET. SO IS IT FAIR TO SAY THEY ARE NOT PLANNED REDUCTIONS FROM THE 23-24 BUDGET?
>> SPEAKER: AT THIS TIME THERE IS NOT THAT IT DOESN'T MEAN THERE WON'T BE. CAN I ALSO ADD ONTO THAT? THERE'S ONE OF THE
[00:50:09]
UNIQUE CHALLENGES FOR LAKE WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT ISTHAT - MICROPHONES? >> SPEAKER: BE SURE TO TURN ON YOUR MICROPHONE WHEN YOU SPEAK OTHERWISE THEY CANNOT HEAR YOU.
>> SPEAKER: LAKE WASHINGTON HAS THE EXPERIENCE OF ADDING TO OUR BUDGET AUDITING AS FAR BACK AS I CAN REMEMBER. AS WE WERE GROWING RAPIDLY AS STATE FUNDING CHANGED SO OUR MUSCLE MEMORY IS GREAT ABOUT IDENTIFYING ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. WE ACTUALLY HAVEN'T HAD AN EXPENDITURE NEUTRAL BUDGET MEANING WE DIDN'T INCREASE OUR EXPENDITURES FROM BUDGET YEAR TO BUDGET YEAR. EVEN THAT WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR LAKE WASHINGTON COMMUNITIES. WE ARE NOT USED TO EVEN THAT. SO THE THOUGHT OF REDUCING EXPENDITURES AGAIN IS ANOTHER STEP.
>> WHAT IS I DON'T ASK THIS AS A LOADED QUESTION AT ALL BUT WHY NOT MAKE SOME REDUCTIONS NOW? WHY NOT MAKE REDUCTIONS
NOW? WHY THE LONGER RUNWAY? >> SPEAKER: THE REASON I GAVE YOU A YES-NO ANSWER IF THERE ARE AREAS WE CAN IDENTIFY IN THE SHORT TERM THAT WE BELIEVE AREN'T PART OF THE LONG-TERM PLAN AND IT MAKES SENSE AND WE CAN DO THAT THEN YES, I CAN SEE US DOING THAT BUT I THINK DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE AROUND LISTENING AND ENGAGING IS PROBABLY THE BEST APPROACH AND THAT'S WHY FOR ME THE REDUCTION IS QUITE SUBSTANTIAL. I WOULD RATHER GIVE IT THE TIME AND ACTUALLY HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY, HEAR FROM OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND STUDENTS
BEFORE WE TAKE THAT STEP. >> I AGREE WITH THAT. I JUST
WANTED TO ASK THAT QUESTION. >> I HAVE DIRECTOR TROY AND
THEN KEVIN. >> BOARD MEMBER: COULD YOU CLARIFY FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, MYSELF, WHEN I LOOK AT THE FUND BALANCE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO SPEND DOWN THERE IS A BASELINE WHERE WE ARE FUNDING THE DISTRICT AND THEN WE HAVE THE EXCESS THAT WERE TRYING TO SPEND DOWN. COULD YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT ON? BECAUSE IN A NA?VE BRAIN LIKE MY OWN CONSIDERING THE OPERATIONS OF THE DISTRICT, YOU HAVE YOUR WHOLE BUDGET THAT YOU PLAN THE OPERATIONS AND DISTRICT STAFF PAY AND EVERYTHING AND WHATNOT AND THEN YOU HAVE THIS EXCESS LUMP-SUM THAT WE ARE SPENDING.
IN MY BRAIN WE SAY WE DON'T SPEND IT ON THE EXTRA THINGS THAT WE GOT TO DO IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS FOR THE BASELINE CAN STAY THE SAME. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT WERE
SPENDING THOSE DOLLARSON? >> SPEAKER: I AM GOING TO GIVE AN ANSWER AS A SUPERINTENDENT BUT I THINK THAT ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT POSTHUMUS WOULD GIVE A DIFFERENT ANSWER. WHEN THIS DECISION WAS MADE WE HAD BEEN PLANNING AND I THINK RIGHTFULLY SO TO BE SOMEWHAT CONSERVATIVE AS WE APPROACH THAT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT DECISION THE LEGISLATOR WOULD MAKE IN REGARDS TO MONEY. THERE WERE A FEW DIFFERENT OPTIONS. I REMEMBER SITTING IN THIS ROOM THINKING ABOUT ARE WE SUPER CONSERVATIVE OR ARE WE SUPER AGGRESSIVE? THE ROAD SHOWS THE MIDDLE ROAD. THAT APPROACH CREATED ESSENTIALLY 110 115 MILLION DOLLAR FUND BALANCE. SPENDING THAT DOWN IS AT TIMES DIFFICULT BECAUSE TO YOUR POINT, YOU DON'T WANT TO START A NEW PROGRAM THAT IN TWO YEARS YOU CUT BECAUSE YOU LOSE ALL OF YOUR FUND BALANCE. SO WE WERE TRYING TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT SPENDING IT DOWN AND IN THE PANDEMIC HIT. WE HAD TO USE SIGNIFICANT FUND BALANCE FOR THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE WHICH
[00:55:07]
PUT US IN A PLACE WHERE WE SPENT IT DOWN BUT WE LOST STUDENT ENROLLMENT SO REVENUES WERE REDUCED AS WELL SO IT WASN'T A PERFECT STORM BUT THERE WERE A FEW VARIABLES THAT WERE COMING INTO PLAY THAT WE COULD NOT FORESEE WHICH CAUSED US TO BE IN A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WERE HISTORICALLY SERVED AND CONTINUES TO BE FUNDED AND HAD NOT THE PANDEMIC OCCURRED BECAUSE THE PROJECTION WAS CONTINUED GROWTH, REVENUE CONTINUES TO INCREASE AND AT A MINIMUM BE CLOSER TO REVENUE EXPENDITURE. THAT IS WHY WE ARE WHERE WE ARE. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE FUNDING RIGHT NOW I THINK ALL OF US WOULD SAY THOSE ARE BASELINE NEEDS AS OPPOSED TO SOMETHING WE HAVE.>> SPEAKER: THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT WE SHARED THIS YEAR IN THE JUNE BUDGET WHEN WE SPEAK OF ADS, WE MAKE THAT DECISION THAT THE ADS ARE ONE YEAR ONLY OR TWO YEARS ONLY IN THOSE, WE KNOW THAT WE WON'T HAVE THOSE FUNDS IN THE FUTURE.
THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT WE HAVE. SOME OF THE ADS WE HAVE DONE OUR SHORT TERM BUT THE FUND BALANCE WHICH WE HAVE ALLOWED TO NOT MAKE THOSE CUTS EARLIER. THAT IS WHAT IT ALLOWED US TO DO RATHER THAN IDENTIFY THIS NEW THING, THE USE OF FUND BALANCE BEFORE IT GOES AWAY.
>> EVAN? >> BOARD MEMBER: I LATCHED ON TO THE EQUITY SECTION OF THIS AND I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE DIFFERENT PROPOSED PLANS ED PLANS FROM OTHER DISTRICTS THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT AND PARTICULARLY I WANTED TO SEE THAT I WAS IN SUPPORT FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS VERSION SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE AS MUCH AS I BELIEVE THAT THE OTHER TWO ARE REALLY GREAT AT MORE HOLISTICALLY EXAMINING EQUITY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET AND WE SEE THE SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL MODEL PUTS NOT THE HARDEST NUMBERS BUT FAIRLY HARD NUMBERS ON EQUITY AND I THINK PARTICULARLY IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT, FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IS THAT THE SCHOOLS WITH LESS EQUITY TEND TO HAVE MORE INVOLVED STUDENT AND PARENT POPULATION. I AM VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF A SYSTEM WHERE WE ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE VERY HARD NUMBERS WHEN WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT MAY NOT BE POPULAR WITH ALL. SECONDLY, I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT COMMUNICATION. I KNOW THAT LAKE WASHINGTON DOES A GOOD JOB ABOUT HAVING SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE AND HAVING A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS. I HAVE TO SAY THAT IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL PRESENCE FROM STUDENT PERSPECTIVE IT IS FAIRLY NEGLIGIBLE. I WOULD LOVE TO CHANGE THAT BUT IT'S THE REALITY THAT STUDENTS GENERALLY DON'T WANT TO FOLLOW THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT INSTAGRAM PAGE.
[LAUGHTER] DISK COMES BACK TO THIS, I'VE TALKED ABOUT IT A COUPLE OF TIMES. WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD RESOURCE IN OUR, ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL HAS AN ASSOCIATED STUDENT BODY INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT THAT IS RUN FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF DISSEMINATING INFORMATION TO THEIR STUDENTS. I THINK THAT COULD BE A GREAT POINT TO LEVERAGE BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS WHAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY DOES A GOOD JOB BECAUSE MOST OF THOSE STUDENTS ARE GETTING THEIR INFORMATION FROM THEIR PARENTS ANYWAY BUT BY THE TIME WE REACH HIGH SCHOOL THAT REDUCES SIGNIFICANTLY IN MY EXPERIENCE. SO LEVERAGING A RESOURCE WHERE STUDENTS ARE ALREADY TUNED INTO IS A LITTLE MORE PERSONAL TO THEM AND IT COULD WORK REALLY WELL. ESSENTIALLY I AM SUGGESTING COULD WE MAKE A VERY STUDENT FOCUSED AND FRIENDLY VERSION OF THE BUDGET? LIKE THESE ARE THE 5 TO 10 THINGS THAT ARE SIGNIFICANTLY GOING TO IMPACT YOUR SCHOOL EXPERIENCE AND THEN MAKE THAT INTO A SOCIAL MEDIA FRIENDLY OPTION AND THEN DISSEMINATE THAT THROUGH THE ASP IF THEY ARE WILLING TO AND
[01:00:05]
I ASSUME THEY WOULD BE. THOSE ARE MY TAKES.>> PRESIDENT: THANK YOU. I WANTED TO BUILD ON THAT AS I WAS LISTENING THROUGH THIS AND SOME OF THE FEEDBACK ENSURING THAT WE GET THE STUDENT VOICE AND COOPERATED IN AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE A KEY STAKEHOLDER IN THE LISTENING SESSION.
HEARING DIRECTLY FROM STUDENTS, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS POTENTIALLY STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE OR BEING ABLE TO BUILD THROUGH THE PIECE. I LOVE THE IDEA THAT EVAN BUILT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA. I APPRECIATE THE SHIFT AS WE GO TO MONITORING THE BUDGET ONE THING WE SPOKE ABOUT IS HOW DO WE GET THE COMMUNITY MORE INVOLVED SO THAT WE BRING THE PUBLIC INTO PUBLIC EDUCATION. I APPRECIATE THE TIMELINE COMING OUT THIS WAY AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN SEE THIS IN 23 AND 24 AND THE CURRENT BUDGET COMING FORWARD. I REALLY APPRECIATED THE EQUITY COMPONENT AND HOW WE THINK ABOUT THAT. I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO DIG INTO THOSE OPTIONS BUT I RECOGNIZE THAT VALUE WE SHOULD HAVE IN PLACE.
AND THE DISTRICT TO GO THROUGH AT LEAST WHEN MY KIDS WENT THROUGH THE SYSTEM, A BUDGET PROCESS.
>> BOARD MEMBER: [LAUGHTER] >> PRESIDENT: WITH THE SHIFTS IN TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD HERE. IT I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT.
AND THE OTHER THING IS WE HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN SO WHERE ARE WE WRAPPING THAT COMPONENT OF HERE IS WHERE WE ENDED ON THIS AND WHERE WE STILL MIGHT HAVE HOLES OR SHIFTED THAT PRIORITY.
SO IT DOESN'T JUST DISAPPEAR AND BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME ACTIVE. I KNOW AS PART OF DOE WE HAVE STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATES TO BE DONE IN THE SPRING. BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY DO THAT PIECE SO WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHERE WE ARE COULD BE BENEFICIAL. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE ALL THAT WORK BECAUSE THOSE ADVISORY GROUPS WERE HUGE PRIOR. IT WAS A VERY USEFUL THING. SO, THANK YOU FOR BUILDING THIS OUT. I THINK A YEAR AND AND A HALF MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. I THINK IT'S A GOOD TIME TO LOOK THROUGH WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T. I APPRECIATE
IT. DIRECTOR LEAH CHOI? >> BOARD MEMBER: I HAD ONE QUESTION ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THE STRATEGIC PLAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, I'M CURIOUS, ARE YOU ENVISIONING IT AS A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT COULD HELP FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE IN THE NEXT 4 TO 5 YEARS? OR IS THIS THE GROUP THAT WOULD HELP FIGURE OUT HOW TO IMPLEMENT ALREADY FIGURED
OUT PRIORITIES? >> SPEAKER: THE INITIAL PIECE? YES. I CAN SEE THIS ADVISORY TAKING FEEDBACK FROM STAKEHOLDERS, REALLY UNPACKING IT AND HELPING IT TO DEVELOP.
FUTURE FOCUSED AS OPPOSED TO THE IMPLEMENTATION.
>> BOARD MEMBER: THE REASON WHY I WAS ASKING, RELIVING THE EXPERIENCE WITH THE SCHOOL START TIME, OUTREACH TO COMMUNITY AND GAUGING WHAT IS IMPORTANT, HEARING BACK FROM THOSE EXCHANGES, IT'S DOUBLED UP HERE LIKE THIS IS IMPORTANT, THIS IS IMPORTANT AND THESE ARE THE THREE BIGGEST THINGS YOU NEED TO CONSIDER. AND THEN THE COMMITTEE RAN WITH OKAY, HOW DO WE COME UP WITH A PLAN OR AN IDEA THAT CAN ADDRESS THIS AND WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR FOR IMPLEMENTATION? THAT'S HOW I SAW THE COMMITTEE OPERATING. I'M NOT PART OF THE COMMITTEE SO, PROBABLY I AM WRONG. MY QUESTION IS FOR THE STRATEGIC PLAN IS THE IDEA GOING TO BE SIMILAR AS FAR AS OVERALL OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY? TO DO THE EXCHANGES AND FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW AND FINDING EXPERTS IN THOSE AREAS TO CREATE A PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD OR IS IT REALLY ABOUT ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN HELPING US TO DEVELOP THE PLAN?
>> SPEAKER: LET'S SAY SUSTAINABILITY. LET'S JUST
[01:05:02]
BUBBLE TO THE TOP WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND WE AGREE AND WE THINK IT IS A NARRATIVE. I DON'T THINK THAT JUST ANYBODY CAN PROVIDE FEEDBACK AROUND THAT. OUR WORK AROUND INCLUSIONARY PRACTICES, PROBABLY IF ARE GETTING DOWN TO THE IMPLEMENTATION PIECE OF IT, THERE'S PROBABLY AN EXPERTISE AROUND THAT AS WELL. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY STAKEHOLDER WHO WANTS TO PROVIDE INPUT, ENGAGEMENT HAS THAT OPPORTUNITY AS WELL. I THINK IT IS SAYING EXACTLY WHAT YOU JUST SAID BUT YES, THERE IS EXPERTISE IN OUR COMMUNITY THATWE CAN PULL FROM. >> [LAUGHTER] TO BUILD ON THAT QUESTION, BOTH ERIC AND LEO BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE RESERVES, WASN'T PART OF THAT LAND ACQUISITION? IT WOULD BE A ONE-TIME THING OPPOSED TO SOMETHING THAT IS ONGOING. NOT BUYING PARCELS EVERY YEAR, YOU BUY PARCELS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AND SO FORTH.
>> SPEAKER: SHARE, THAT IS CAPITAL. ANY LAND AND BUILDINGS ARE OUT OF THAT CAPITAL ACCOUNT. IT IS NOT OUT OF THE OPERATING FUNDS. THE GENERAL FUND. WE ARE NOT USING THE GENERAL FUND TO PURCHASE THE LAND. WE ARE USING THE
CAPITAL FUND. >> BOARD MEMBER: SO THAT'S CAPITAL AS WELL AS OPERATING? OKAY. SECOND OF ALL, ON A TOTALLY DIFFERENT AREA, AS WE APPROACH BUDGET CUTS, SEVERAL YEARS AFTER THE 2008 BUDGET CUTS, THERE WAS STILL A MINDSET BY STAFF OF YOU DON'T DARE ASK FOR ANY THING BECAUSE THEY HAD A BUDGET CUT YEARS AGO. YOU DON'T ASK THE PRINCIPAL AND SUCH AND SUCH. AND IT WAS EVADED. STAFF WAS APPREHENSIVE ABOUT EVEN ASKING FOR THINGS THAT THEY REALLY NEEDED TO BE QUITE FRANK. I GUESS IT WAS A GOOD THING BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT ASKING DURING TOUGH TIMES BUT ONCE THE PURSESTRINGS LOOSEN UP AND YOU'VE GOT THE FUNDING, YOU HAVE KIND OF CREATED A JUST DON'T ASK FOR IT MENTALITY AND IT WASN'T MEAN-SPIRITED IT WAS A FEAR THAT IF WE ASK FOR ANYTHING WERE NOT GOING TO GET IT. IT WAS TO THE POINT THAT SOMETIMES THEY HAD TO ASK FOR GRANTS FOR THE PT ESSAY BEFORE THEY WOULD ASK FROM THEIR OWN BUDGET. YOU SEE WHERE I'M GOING? IT IS IN OUTLOOK AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T FALL IN THAT TRAP AGAIN. AND IF ANYONE HAS AN INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDERS SUCH AS TEACHERS, THAT WOULD BE AVOIDED. BUT, IT LINGERS.
>> BOARD MEMBER: IS BASED TO THE NOTES I WROTE DOWN HOW DO WE KEEP OUR STAFF INFORMED OVER. OF TIME.
>> BOARD MEMBER: THERE YOU GO.
>> BOARD MEMBER: IT SHOULD BE MAINTENANCE OF KEEPING OUR
STAFF INFORMED. >> BOARD MEMBER: I THINK IT CREATES A BIT OF A MORALE PERIOD BECAUSE ALL OF A SUDDEN IT BECOMES THE BASICS. OKAY, THANKS.
>> PRESIDENT: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK? SEEING NONE I'M GOING TO SAY, THANK YOU. WOULD APPRECIATE THE UPDATE WITH THE BUDGET AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS ROLLING OUT IN THOSE ENGAGEMENT PIECES. I APPRECIATE THOSE EFFORTS GOING IN AND WITH
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.