[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6623388,"mediaKeyId","2771683-aef40daa89f878d28875e7654c5b0736","parentId",2771683,"title","Wenatchee board advances three policy revisions to second reading","audioSeconds",354,"startMs",3186000,"endMs",3540000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2771683-aef40daa89f878d28875e7654c5b0736&start=3186&end=3540","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2771683-aef40daa89f878d28875e7654c5b0736/thumbnail_3186000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6623388/Washington/Wenatchee-board-advances-three-policy-revisions-to-second-reading","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623388-3175030cf895d46fbe0dc074330627aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1775275327&Signature=RRAaoG1Df0jA2HltDuNvZCIJVF91XrV4inLgvKsXGcbY8SWUaZTq9Vxq3J7tLWHhRJ2LxGFivOMvJ~mKwvDlIN556123TH3O1AWF0Gw9gQei8zVf9T39Sj2J6VcCZemv2g~zEXFmgQh9Ksd8XZ~dVtmVrbP5BiYOH9rAi3XdGWxJejzcya4pDoMy4goLBKxzgEoD1g2d6tf7ipcekvWe-hq5bkO9rsrxR~tVLPbz~kssu6S-fY~81Ponm9uYMwVdpYElekdYr1iOgnvBGAb6SbySm0OSFaTbhR8gn-frBz9NON2pYVLffCWt5JjHxnb6Iu~pB0GlD43eZ2z6FMgm6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wenatchee School District, Washington","date","2025-03-26T02:51:39.52Z","article","The Wenatchee School District board on March 25 advanced three revised policies to a second reading scheduled for April 1, the board said, after staff and directors discussed clarifications to volunteer definitions and updates to nondiscrimination and affirmative action language.

The three policies moved forward were: policy 50.05 (employment and volunteers: definitions of unsupervised access to children, approval processes and certifications), policy 32.10 (nondiscrimination: model handbook requirements, complaint procedure and compliance officer designation) and policy 50.10 (nondiscrimination and affirmative action: rewritten affirmative action language, complaint procedures and training requirements).

Board staff said the employment and volunteer policy updates adopt model language from the Washington Association of School District Administrators to clarify which volunteers have unsupervised access to children and to describe approval processes. The revised nondiscrimination policy reorganizes and restates existing requirements, and the affirmative action policy rewrites the district’s affirmative action language and clarifies complaint processes and training.

The board indicated it had reviewed edits and legal counsel had been involved in alphabetizing or reorganizing the text. After brief discussion, the board “moved these 3 to second read next week, April first,” the presiding officer said. The transcript does not show a recorded roll call vote on the second‑reading referral.

Votes at a glance: the board approved the consent agenda at the start of the meeting (motion to approve the consent agenda was moved by Board Director Julie and seconded by Board Director Miranda; presiding officer called the vote and said “Aye. Aye. Motion carries” -- no roll‑call tally was recorded in the transcript). The three policies above were advanced to a second reading on April 1 for final consideration.

Why it matters: The policies address volunteer screening and nondiscrimination procedures that affect hiring, volunteer access to students, complaint handling and training requirements. Moving the policies to a second reading gives directors further time to review redline changes and for staff to incorporate any additional edits before a formal adoption vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wenatchee School District Board Meeting 3/25/25","oneSentenceSummary","After a brief discussion March 25, the Wenatchee School District board moved three revised policies—employment and volunteers, nondiscrimination, and nondiscrimination/affirmative action—to a second reading on April 1 for further review.","taxTitle","Wenatchee School District, School Districts, Washington","taxId",38568,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6623393,"District demographer: lower birth rates and falling kindergarten capture rate will shrink Wenatchee enrollment",1673,1523000,3196000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2771683-aef40daa89f878d28875e7654c5b0736&start=1523&end=3196","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2771683-aef40daa89f878d28875e7654c5b0736/thumbnail_1523000.jpg","/articles/6623393/Washington/District-demographer-lower-birth-rates-and-falling-kindergarten-capture-rate-will-shrink-Wenatchee-enrollment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623393-a235f71b03477ea53901fa713f2292db/orig.mp4?Expires=1775275327&Signature=iXsgFazMpng~G6cUvCLr6XBUAX6w7ME3GaiUBVM4jvYmbfHO5YLkUF9tdaxqK5JynqrgCLhmDofPF~tEBiaavmmN3RRFxyV2-Jvjsn6isAR0a4QFVVW2WK73ch0VXC~XcXVQUOCddSSjIrmJKK16LgkgwwLqGX1dDsaYPHOdjQTP4QQ0VNbx2bLUmUCd~p~IA-FyvfNssVaChqh~W-ycQEDq~YrTbBsksuO5gWLOgBi4B5FDiIWTwzwmguyGZBY04ckgGci6Qf3ODoctAhVT7RvwAQe7YEkNyIv1X337QD~Qk~DWh4nl49vAqBoMba5Dw7RwUBUV6mCtRypRqhFVYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A demographic presentation to the Wenatchee School District board on March 25 warned that lower birth rates and a falling kindergarten capture rate are forecast to shrink the district’s resident student population over the coming years.

Marcy Horner, a consultant with MGT who presented the analysis, said the forecast uses student data provided by the district (snapshot dated Oct. 1, 2024), historical trends, birth counts from the Washington State Department of Health and residential development research. “Resident student population is expected to decline just, by 1.5% next year. Projections indicate a total loss of 11% in, by 2029,” Horner said.

Horner showed the underlying drivers: a lower kindergarten capture rate (she cited a recent observed capture rate near 76%, down from prior years around 80%), falling birth counts (an example drop from 572 births to 501 births five years prior to a given kindergarten cohort), and variations in mobility and grade‑to‑grade retention. She said those changes, taken together, can translate into losses of dozens of students per grade. “When we talk about what how many students you might gain from a development...if you have a hundred [homes]...it’s 33 across K through 12 across 3 years, as opposed to losing 71 in 1 grade level,” she said.

Horner provided several numeric summaries that the board requested to inform budget and facilities planning: the report’s resident student forecast totaled about 6,544 K‑12 resident students on the base year matrix; the district’s total student count for the year presented was 7,095, a decline of 63 students from the prior year; and the forecast incorporated 509 housing units in active projects (87% described as apartments) in four elementary attendance areas.

She described student yield assumptions used for residential development modeling and said those yield factors are reanalyzed annually. Horner said her team contacts city and county planning records, reviews meeting notes, conducts site drives and uses aerial imagery to confirm whether developments have ground activity; only projects with sufficient approval or observable ground movement are included in the forecast, she said. Projects without sufficient evidence are kept on a watch list and can be incorporated in later forecasts when approvals or construction begin.

Board members raised questions on methodology and on whether to include projected economic development that lacks current approvals. Board Director Martin asked whether the model accounted for longer‑term infrastructure changes that might enable development in Sunnyslope or Malaga; Horner replied that the consultant team will include only approved/ground‑moving developments unless the board prefers a scenario that explicitly models additional speculative growth.

Why it matters: The forecast figures inform staffing, facility planning and budget assumptions. Board members and district finance staff said they will use the analysis in preparing the coming year’s budget and capital planning work.

The board had no formal vote on the forecast itself; it thanked Horner for the presentation and discussed next steps for incorporating the analysis into district planning.","A consultant told the Wenatchee School District board March 25 that declining birth counts and a lower kindergarten capture rate are expected to reduce resident student enrollment by about 1.5% next year and roughly 11% by 2029, and she described the data and methods behind the district's five‑ to seven‑year forecast.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6623397,"Youth sports groups tell Wenatchee School District new facility fees threaten participation",4169,208000,4377000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2771683-aef40daa89f878d28875e7654c5b0736&start=208&end=4377","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2771683-aef40daa89f878d28875e7654c5b0736/thumbnail_208000.jpg","/articles/6623397/Washington/Youth-sports-groups-tell-Wenatchee-School-District-new-facility-fees-threaten-participation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623397-1e02d723d47d50c8af379504c74a3166/orig.mp4?Expires=1775275327&Signature=QAL51HMcR3iY11l3pfI7lnT9AqVjn562PV05QQB6FD4SHQrREHA7FBaCVGlz9DZhqH2SEoihzyMuIeFJk6AzTLoO2V1cRArZ1O~l~f5ARb--eGXw21xkx0tjIp7GtzQO3Dkp7ro68q8RVIu3b0h5sEFzJisW7ldTriGjS5-2iDmE-L8qCm-VUGyqvILG3wk48F9z2ZjQJzkbI317bCLbuxdSWoZd29G1QOdAjVK9N9PmhFqzpN1M4NbBTsPhZnKMKS-6LOXrk1hqL4pR-wXr6Z1TQjjxSIQMuChuUifBN1OsE~2-OU3Ic9j6vNAk1XF76CmruIz32R63ejMJZ3slUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of multiple local youth sports organizations urged the Wenatchee School District board March 25 to revisit newly applied facility‑use fees and the district’s billing procedures, saying recent invoices have imposed an unexpected financial burden on families and volunteer‑run programs.

“We had no idea this bill was coming,” said Mike Parrish, president of Greater Wenatchee Youth Soccer Club, describing a spring invoice for district fields that he said exceeded $20,000 and contrasted with smaller fall bills. Parrish said the charges threaten the clubs’ efforts to keep costs low for families and may force reductions in participation.

The concern was echoed by Cindy Abuwamo, who identified herself as registrar for Greater Wenatchee Rec Youth Soccer and president and director of operations for Wenatchee United Youth Soccer. “The new billing system that you guys are using does not allow to put a bunch of information on there,” she said, describing invoices that show only a total without line‑item detail and reservation confirmations that list only a final cost.

Mike Osborne, speaking for Wenatchee FC Youth, said community clubs subsidize access for many families and that fee increases risk those programs’ viability. “In the last 3 years alone, we’ve managed to give away over a hundred thousand dollars in scholarships and waivers,” Osborne said, adding that sudden fee assessments without prior discussion could bankrupt long‑standing nonprofits.

Mark Hamilton, president of the Wenatchee Valley Lacrosse Club, told the board that fees have risen without clear reinvestment in facilities, giving an example he said affected his club: “Last year, we got the Apple Bowl for a hundred dollars for practice. This past fall, we had a bill for $270 for the same amount of time.” Hamilton said the higher charges, combined with persistent field maintenance problems, create fairness and safety concerns.

Speakers described a range of operational problems tied to the district’s facility reservations system: invoices that are not itemized, a reservation workflow that requires clubs to reupload identification and insurance certificates for every request, and inconsistent communication about why charges differ from other jurisdictions such as Eastmont or fees at non‑district fields.

Board members acknowledged the concerns and said they did not want to appear to have been unaware of the impact. Board Director Maria said she was troubled that the changes had not been clearly signaled to the board and asked for more information about how and when fees were adopted. “I don’t feel comfortable, saying that, hey. They tried to sweep something under the rug,” Maria said, urging a review of the process by the appropriate committee.

Board members discussed options for follow‑up. Several directors said the district should provide clearer invoices and better stakeholder communication; one suggested referring the matter to the policy or budget committee for a fuller review. No formal motion to change fee policy was recorded at the March 25 meeting.

Why it matters: Multiple speakers said the fee changes could reduce access to youth sports, particularly for families with multiple children, and that unequal treatment across nearby jurisdictions could push local teams to play outside the district. Board members said they would pursue more information and consider next steps at upcoming meetings.

Board and district staff did not adopt any immediate changes to the fee schedule at the meeting. Directors said they will request documentation from district administration on invoicing, the reservation system settings, and the history of any recent fee schedule changes so the matter can be considered at the committee level and, if needed, on a future board agenda.","Representatives of local youth sports organizations told the Wenatchee School District board March 25 that recently assessed facility-use fees and non‑itemized invoices are straining club budgets, creating competitive disadvantages with neighboring districts and prompting requests for a district review of billing and scheduling practices.","actionData","errors"]

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Wenatchee board advances three policy revisions to second reading

District demographer: lower birth rates and falling kindergarten capture rate will shrink Wenatchee enrollment

Youth sports groups tell Wenatchee School District new facility fees threaten participation