[{"_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",6184511,"mediaKeyId","5089423-4453bc2306154ecc20e8655933309d58","parentId",5089423,"title","Bellevue School Board approves $7.3 million general fund extension and petitions OSPI for binding conditions oversight","audioSeconds",313,"startMs",367000,"endMs",680000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5089423-4453bc2306154ecc20e8655933309d58&start=367&end=680","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5089423-4453bc2306154ecc20e8655933309d58/thumbnail_367000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6184511/Washington/Bellevue-School-Board-approves-73-million-general-fund-extension-and-petitions-OSPI-for-binding-conditions-oversight","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6184511-0e6e861c42d7752d1202bfac270c22ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137937&Signature=JAI7w03pLegirgTc5eOE2d~1vs0t~oPq7a2FHTLJT0DkWfOCP8~an0bJpraf3kEzzyVlAC7Iey33v~qaxbm-rE4-hoZ~V01yj2N506mRIRMMb54n3Bph2tCnywYWlqZAQMJ374oa08ZsLnNdU8qlA0ADHW5T33SDrxcLUp4byxlRpA3oL4Gy0FVWTJ9m~YYgY10~w~eQ8wQHrUgyGWFn1oYGftZr0v~duMD1i3aa9KNVzpL1BYVSIGEgkgx9nq3ovdL6B4bItUvJ07E6zNwM0Q-LA8qHtzkOi7F0AbgYB5cKLXEtZESpxOqd5jym2Y274pgqekzkaXzfaA6nCbcrEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bellevue School District, Washington","date","2025-06-27T14:40:47Z","article","The Bellevue School District Board of Directors voted June 26 to file a general fund budget extension of $7,294,612 with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, increasing the district’s 2024–25 general fund appropriation from $425,397,592 to $432,692,204.

Board action followed presentations by district finance staff showing the district will close 2024–25 with a negative ending fund balance. Executive Director of Business Services Jason Pollock told the board the district projects revenues of about $418 million and expenditures of about $432 million for the fiscal year, leaving a projected negative ending fund balance of roughly $5.9 million. Pollock said the shortfall results from both lower-than-expected revenues and higher expenditures.

Superintendent Kelly Aramaki explained what the next step means: “Binding conditions is basically state oversight status triggered when a school district ends the fiscal year with a negative fund balance,” she said, adding that OSPI requires a detailed financial recovery plan, enhanced budget monitoring and approval, and monthly meetings among the district, the Puget Sound Educational Service District and OSPI.

The board also passed a second resolution asking OSPI to include $68,982,152 in taxes receivable for calendar-year levies into the 2024–25 extension and to expedite placing the district into binding conditions. That petition was approved by the board by voice vote; directors recorded ‘‘aye’’ and no opposition was noted.

Megan Hayden, the district’s director of budgeting, described accounting and timing factors that affect the extension. She said some accounting entries required by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) — for example multi-year software or lease contracts — appear as expenditures in the year of signing but are offset as revenue for reporting purposes, producing a revenue-neutral but expenditure-visible line on financial statements. She also said the district had budgeted an optimistic $10 million of additional revenue tied to projected enrollment growth that did not materialize.

Board discussion focused on the drivers of the deficit and on oversight steps. Directors repeatedly cited special education costs and past budget assumptions as recurring risk areas. Director Martha Trias noted the district’s chronic absenteeism and equity concerns during the meeting’s earlier agenda items as context for student-centered priorities the board must protect while reconciling finances. Several directors emphasized the need for clear, frequent reporting and stronger internal controls going forward.

Board President Carolyn Watson and others highlighted a one-time legislative option now available to districts. Aramaki described Senate Bill 5412 (as discussed in the meeting) as enabling a one-time sale of certain district property to help restore fund balance; she said the district has identified a parcel “on the backside of Somerset” that is not usable for a school and has been listed for sale. The superintendent and directors stressed that the property-sale authority is a one-time measure and not a recurring revenue solution.

Pollock and Hayden outlined next steps: the district will file the paperwork with OSPI and, once OSPI acts, the district will enter regular monthly oversight meetings with OSPI and Puget Sound ESD. Staff said the process of agreeing on binding-condition metrics typically spans two to three years but could vary; if established metrics are met sooner, the district may progress out of oversight sooner. Staff also warned that failure to meet agreed metrics could escalate to enhanced oversight, in which OSPI assigns closer financial management support.

The board approved the budget-extension resolution and the binding-conditions petition in separate voice votes. The district’s budget team will bring a preliminary 2025–26 budget to the board in July and a finalized budget proposal for action in August, and staff asked the board to continue monthly study sessions to monitor cash flow and staffing so the board and OSPI have clear, timely information.

The resolutions and staff presentation make the district’s fiscal condition public and start the formal state review process. The board and staff repeatedly said they will continue a public-facing recovery effort focused on transparency, student-centered planning and community input as the district implements a recovery plan in partnership with OSPI.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular Board Meeting June 26, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Bellevue School District Board of Directors voted June 26 to file a general fund budget extension of $7,294,612 with the state, moving the district to a projected negative 2024–25 ending fund balance and prompting a petition to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to place the district in binding conditions oversight.","taxTitle","Bellevue School District, School Districts, Washington","taxId",13035,"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},6184501,"Board approves two‑year BEA collective bargaining agreement; union ratifies 95%",570,2744000,3314000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5089423-4453bc2306154ecc20e8655933309d58&start=2744&end=3314","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5089423-4453bc2306154ecc20e8655933309d58/thumbnail_2744000.jpg","/articles/6184501/Washington/Board-approves-twoyear-BEA-collective-bargaining-agreement-union-ratifies-95","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6184501-4ba0c126046f596b161cd5efa1c99a6b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137937&Signature=RE8btqPWlhQYJA-2aAFutwy69wwxz12rr778Jh3yl8viYr5zF8bmq1BinZciS0pIoxeZI8Jkr1D0TcvWSh4hIghnIniTgNvEUbGqf8N64wK-h1TzM~ZFOd75I5565jg5d3w1QGJjVurV9~QYMSCqnbeJ-d7-ahPGM-F~kKGqOOcC3CjHIR2kwME6eK~~aWyL39tmHODhU9ECjwGVUTNm6Q1RZf-LHsteJDI5vKe6dVKbK7L2qmLXUmuMRWMRy7XomZ0kmD33HpmvXcu9blrFqUmbMx1qTH0yzD43Xljp3i0Xc4SHXY4rmDJ0Cd9uz6b4Aoi7Tyel4U~h3HInfj100A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bellevue School District Board of Directors approved a collective bargaining agreement with the Bellevue Education Association on June 26, after union leaders told the board the tentative agreement was ratified by members at 95 percent.

Jill Rock, president of the Bellevue Education Association, described a drawn-out, interest‑based bargaining process that had strong union support: “We had a unanimous support for our tentative agreement from our executive board and our general membership ratified at 95%,” she said. Rock said the parties focused on cost‑neutral language where necessary and prioritized support for educators on non‑continuing contracts and continued MTSS work.

Jeff Thomas, who co‑led the district’s bargaining team, praised the process and described it as a successful example of interest‑based bargaining in a constrained fiscal environment. ‘‘Negotiations are harder when you don't have any resources, and yet some of the best negotiations happen exactly when you don't have resources because it forces creativity,’’ he said.

The board moved and approved the agreement by roll call vote. Director Phil Block moved to approve the BEA–BSD collective bargaining agreement; the motion was seconded and the board voted unanimously, recorded as \"aye\" by Directors Block, Watson, Trias, Webster and Norris. Board members praised both bargaining teams for collaboration and noted the contract was reached before summer, an outcome the board described as helpful for staff planning.

Board discussion acknowledged the district’s broader fiscal challenges. Directors said they appreciated the union’s flexibility given statewide funding constraints and highlighted the centrality of supporting educators while managing limited resources. The approved agreement will be implemented according to its negotiated terms and the parties’ ratification process.","The Bellevue Education Association and the Bellevue School District bargaining teams reached a tentative agreement that union members ratified at 95%; the board unanimously approved the collective bargaining agreement June 26.",{"_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},6184506,"Bellevue board hears attendance report; officials target chronic absenteeism reductions and expanded outreach",1412,1240000,2652000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5089423-4453bc2306154ecc20e8655933309d58&start=1240&end=2652","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5089423-4453bc2306154ecc20e8655933309d58/thumbnail_1240000.jpg","/articles/6184506/Washington/Bellevue-board-hears-attendance-report-officials-target-chronic-absenteeism-reductions-and-expanded-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6184506-b589959676e8cef413d002698cd302a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137937&Signature=kLQA6CNowsMYKh8HSyGUtPr5i9j0W6kKALWSStJazosP9BScCFpzfgApveFEK48F9l~QkR4UGGWRlkX82HzxU4U98oNkbf1YIpbKFagLzgeMDSF4wvq-IO3SR~acfzK8j89Ah-0pmWAE6PMCYRNii6nEEl~dJIFOGAacx3qo44mI~wzsbTUDRWjtLKX98lcw8WFsM8YNfIvatVVwRyKb22ku8SnOijByXOM8fQqlI-WxmOF3F7fnR-lrIgvvPkWu9i7MFFhA2ifgQnzCZOZbSA6osdoBsqKZZTmY27K5LhbSF5VbZeV27v2~v2toOB504G1LsCbvXte5oN0PTl9Lkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bellevue School District Board of Directors received a department report June 26 on attendance and chronic absenteeism, including district targets and next steps to reduce prolonged student absences.

Glenn Haslinger, the district’s director of student engagement, told the board that national practice defines chronic absenteeism as missing 10% or more of the school year and that Bellevue’s current chronic-absence rate was about a quarter of students. “What we’re looking at here, obviously, is trying to reduce that from current 25 percent down to 20 percent,” Haslinger said, and he added a “stretch goal” of cutting chronic absenteeism in half.

Haslinger described four common root‑cause categories that, in his experience, account for roughly 95% of chronic attendance cases and emphasized the district’s Multi‑Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) approach. He urged consistent labeling of absence types in the student information system so interventions can be targeted, and he said the district will expand elementary‑level MTSS, provide staff training, improve family communication and pursue technology solutions to enable more timely, real‑time attendance notifications.

Directors asked about equity and communications. Director Martha Trias said the district’s chronic absenteeism rate is “26.1 percent” and urged more early intervention and materials in multiple languages. Director Monica Webster pressed for data on transportation barriers and asked whether the district could produce midyear and year‑end attendance reports so the board and community can track progress.

Other directors recommended reviewing the tone of attendance notifications to avoid alienating families, expanding early‑warning systems and developing individualized attendance intervention plans for students facing extenuating life circumstances. Haslinger and board members noted that chronically absent students are significantly less likely to meet standards on Smarter Balanced assessments than peers who attend at 95% or better; Haslinger said chronically absent students “are half as likely to pass a Smarter Balanced [assessment] than those who have no attendance issues,” with larger gaps for historically marginalized groups.

Board members and staff discussed concrete outreach tactics: short multilingual videos, PTA partnerships, translating realtime notifications, and stronger connections to afterschool activities and athletics to build belonging. The board asked staff to return with more precise data on transportation‑related absences, metrics for evaluating pilot interventions, and recommendations for staff training and family communication tools for the 2025–26 school year.

No formal board action was taken; the item was presented for information and guidance and will inform the district’s attendance work ahead of the coming school year.","District staff reported on chronic absenteeism — defined as missing 10% or more of school days — and proposed MTSS-based interventions, earlier outreach, multilingual communications and technology tools to reduce absenteeism from roughly 25% toward 20% and beyond.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bellevue School Board approves $7.3 million general fund extension and petitions OSPI for binding conditions oversight

Board approves two‑year BEA collective bargaining agreement; union ratifies 95%

Bellevue board hears attendance report; officials target chronic absenteeism reductions and expanded outreach