Following conclusion of a public meeting on re-running the school district’s high school construction bond, the Cheney School Board made quick work of an otherwise light agenda.
The board received a student enrollment and financial update from the school district’s executive director of finance, Kassidy Probert that indicated student enrollment is still running ahead of budgeted numbers. Total enrollment through February was 4,177 full-time equivalent (FTE) students, down from 4,188 in January but still 43 students ahead of what the district had budgeted for in the 2014-15 school year and three students ahead of where they thought they would be at this point in time.
In contrast, enrollment numbers through February 2013-14 were 4,056 FTEs and 3,916 FTEs in 2012-13.
The enrollment numbers keep the district’s projected school year revenue at just under $45.72 million, up from $43.20 million last year due to the increased enrollment, which means additional state revenues. Expenses so far this year are just over $18.23 million, Probert said; on pace to meet the projected $44.1 million budgeted in 2014-15.
Those numbers give the district an operating fund balance of $2,898,394 through January, on track to a projected $6.48 million ending fund balance of which $2.2 million would be unreserved, meeting the board’s goal of maintaining a 5 percent reserve balance.
In new business the board elected to rescind a pair of policies regarding signature authorizations and payment for travel expenses. The former is included under a new policy already adopted while the latter is to be replaced by a new policy “Board Member Expenses,” which subsequently received its first reading last Wednesday.
The board let die a proposed rescinding of a policy regarding who should represent the district in legal matters. The policy stipulates that the Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney is “the statutory legal counselor for the District,” and serves as legal adviser and representative of the board in “matters relating to official business.”
Probert told the board that the Washington State School Directors Association got rid of a similar policy back in the 1990s. Superintendent Dr. Debra Clemens said the association is recommending districts do likewise, as many now contract or have in-house legal services.
“Why not get free legal services?” Director Rick Mount asked regarding the county prosecutor.
“I’m not sure they’re free,” Probert responded.
Mount asked staff to find out if the county services were free, and the proposed rescission died for lack of a motion. Mount added that the current county prosecutor, Larry Haskell, is a former Cheney School Board member.
The board voted to surplus four district vehicles, all of which are pickup trucks and none of which currently run, Probert said. In old business, the board passed revisions and updates to policies concerning homeless students’ rights and services and the prohibition of harassment, intimidation and bullying.
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.
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