School Board Approves Non-voted Debt Request

Budget Advisory Committee Meeting follows the vote

The Orcas Island School District (OISD) Board of Directors voted to approve application for a [intlink id=”12399″ type=”post”]$900,000 bond request [/intlink]to complete repairs and renovation of energy systems in the elementary school this summer.

At the Special Meeting on Tuesday, June 8, only Board Member Jim Sullivan voted against the measure. Member Tony Ghazel was not in attendance.

The vote followed a public hearing of 10 minutes in which no dissenting opinions were voiced.

Following the vote, the board discussed district finances with the Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) , which was represented at the meeting by Carol Sutton and Steve Diepenbrock. Business Manager Keith Whitaker has served on the BAC in the past.

Whitaker reviewed the budget formulation process in light of the budget passed by the legislature last week. He noted that Governor Gregoire has not yet signed the budget, and cautioned that the stipend for ALE students will be reduced by 10 to 20 percent.

Whitaker reduced the stipend in the upcoming budget by 14 percent.

Enrollment will determine the number of [intlink id=”12208″ type=”post”]teaching staff that can be hired back[/intlink] for next year. Whitaker said that he estimates enrollment next year at 624  FTE, and “would rather build the budget on [that number] ”  although Educational Service District personnel “are more comfortable with 602 FTE.” He has been directed by the School Board to create two budgets on both numbers.

“We do have a waiting list and we feel confident in the 624 enrollment number,” Whitaker said.

Whitaker said that he would rather separate out students by those who are out-of -district than by distinguishing between those on Orcas Island who are in the ALE program rather than attending the “brick-and-mortar” schools.

Whitaker commented on the fourth year of work of the BAC: “It’s been a wonderful process —  the progress that’s been made is phenomenal in budgeting to actuals, in budgeting in new software. It’s a wonderful foundation for the future.”