[{"_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",6157868,"mediaKeyId","5463062-ff3aaccaa627d7a0b8a02fed52037c57","parentId",5463062,"title","Pasco board agrees to prepare WSSDA Board of Distinction application, narrows focus to student success and professional development","audioSeconds",336,"startMs",1220000,"endMs",1556000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5463062-ff3aaccaa627d7a0b8a02fed52037c57&start=1220&end=1556","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5463062-ff3aaccaa627d7a0b8a02fed52037c57/thumbnail_1220000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6157868/Washington/Pasco-board-agrees-to-prepare-WSSDA-Board-of-Distinction-application-narrows-focus-to-student-success-and-professional-development","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6157868-0215941388734c2b32dc01aa642e2699/orig.mp4?Expires=1773573212&Signature=AAEQeqxdJuWLe91hVx-NQlWBJnVAx~zqVgOnF2Hwz8P3~L7er6B7fN3WDd1y~Naey7iEy5nSTJa2~mLoSVfJJuDeP~kJyfG8ar0bPIKYY0WizMaoVIHF-i2VdQ43aIfWOsJpMXqbm3gp~7GlZ6-ZxTvaCNxfQYh5~qGxrRUNAc39qscH-9anUb3~IkDnGsEbJV5KkDlMFt6aG3WHaNLMwxC8GSTGjoAsDpEgbe37q3-u0OmRcpGzg77PVPYDTbAK6ZGjdtXmdrbWCUNq8435U6G7dL007yIomhDd~vSADIsQdsw03~N9FXC8R3mYWPtMBhQBkzhD02e342UFpYEGdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pasco School District, WA","date","2025-07-24T16:31:02.277Z","article","The Pasco School District Board of Directors signaled support for preparing an application for Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) recognition, discussing the application’s new five‑question format and potential topics the board could highlight.

Superintendent Whitney briefed trustees about the application timeline and content, noting the application window closes at midnight on Sept. 8. She said WSSDA now allows boards to describe actions and results from the past five years rather than limiting responses to a single year.

Board members proposed topics and volunteers for the application work. President Amanda Brown said, “I would like to apply,” and described having written or reviewed past applications with other directors. Trustees suggested focusing on the board’s recent work revising the superintendent evaluation, professional development tied to governance and a narrative framed around student success stories and data — including district analysis that indicates some students not on track at the end of ninth grade nevertheless graduate at higher rates than expected.

Why it matters: WSSDA recognition (Board of Distinction or Board of the Year) is an external validation of board governance practices and can help the district publicize strategic priorities and community impact.

Discussion highlights
Board members discussed the logistics of writing the application: WSSDA limits collaborative drafting in person but allows multiple directors to contribute; the president and superintendent typically review submissions. Directors volunteered to draft sections and to edit one another’s work. Suggested evidence included quantitative analysis of graduation probability tied to ninth‑grade credit accumulation and narrative examples showing how district systems support students who fall off the typical on‑track trajectory.

Next steps
Trustees asked staff to coordinate drafting, gather supporting data and prepare a timeline to present drafts for review ahead of the Sept. 8 application deadline.

Ending
There was no formal vote recorded; the board reached a working consensus to apply and named several directors to participate in drafting and editing the application.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","July 22, 2025 | Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Trustees agreed to prepare an application for Washington State School Directors' Association recognition, proposing to emphasize superintendent evaluation work, student success data (9th‑grade credit trajectories) and the district's dual‑language program.","taxTitle","Pasco School District, School Districts, Washington","taxId",14815,"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},6157873,"Pasco School Board swears in four student representatives as district adds two new high schools",5703,113000,5816000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5463062-ff3aaccaa627d7a0b8a02fed52037c57&start=113&end=5816","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5463062-ff3aaccaa627d7a0b8a02fed52037c57/thumbnail_113000.jpg","/articles/6157873/Washington/Pasco-School-Board-swears-in-four-student-representatives-as-district-adds-two-new-high-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6157873-703a93723c0d853eae7b27bbfaf94af7/orig.mp4?Expires=1773573212&Signature=OXb-bLpkwLwJviStv51qlPCaYntEoAtvfW4Go5dTeAd-260eevRetr0eqwHMO-QO3Tnjso-xlhRvY7fQ33dvJZCk~KAvAHn42vH88SIU179xKnfNAe7F9iFWlmqi0DYB5iMGFIAGEcWQd~kBKXPamTgDvated-mJ~qXqUfOisv5dH-1R1z1~OCzmRVYu2PNsBBAFxLMnMz1-t8bF~SakdYPBDQPdNx-UIyuDAX2MhlVOzoU3D4VkWtVNJX~HjQ5i5MKWZ6~l1Mvi35R3xT31cuI0dXbDNtt2cjQAXkoPHubRAmQ~SvhMGjMaMa44z0jdjmd5y7H2PyyeShblK~FvSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pasco School District on Tuesday swore in four student board representatives who will serve on the district’s Board of Directors for the coming year, a year that includes the opening of two new high schools.

Superintendent Whitney administered the oaths and introduced the students during a board meeting in the district boardroom. The students were Vicki Alvarez Molina (Sage View High School), Jessica Espinosa Chavez (Pasco High School), Noe Limoponze (Chiawana High School) and Aidan Mariscoe (Delta High School).

Board President Amanda Brown told the students, “You are the voice of the students here on the board,” and explained that student representatives may speak and take part in discussions but do not have voting rights.

Why it matters: the district is expanding its student representation as enrollment and new facilities change the district’s school footprint. The board emphasized the symbolic and practical importance of student participation in governance.

Background and selection
Superintendent Whitney said 46 students applied this year and each applicant was interviewed; the pool was competitive. In introducing each student Whitney summarized school history, activities and the students’ post‑secondary goals. For example, Whitney noted Alvarez Molina volunteers at the Arc of Tri‑Cities and plays violin, and that Limoponze seeks a career in education and plans to pursue a master’s in teaching.

Remarks from students
Each of the four students spoke briefly after being sworn in. Representative Aidan Mariscoe said he was “really honored and excited” to be on the board. Jessica Espinosa Chavez said she aims to “be that voice for the students, to be that voice for their community members,” and expressed a desire to make people feel heard. Noe Limoponze and Vicki Alvarez Molina each thanked the board and said they look forward to representing their peers.

Board comments and context
Directors and administrators praised the selection process and welcomed the larger student representation — the district previously had fewer student reps and this is the first time the board seated four. Trustees noted principals from the participating high schools were involved in interviews and described the appointments as competitive and valuable for board deliberations.

Ending
The board encouraged the student representatives to participate in discussions throughout the year and to take advantage of the learning opportunity as two new high schools — Sage View and Orion — open this fall; the district later said it will hold ribbon‑cutting events for the new schools in August.","The Pasco School District swore in four student board representatives who will advise the board through the school year; trustees emphasized the students cannot vote but are the official student voice.",{"_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},6157877,"Pasco School District projects shortfall, braces for nearly $4 million in federal grant cuts",791,2033000,2824000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5463062-ff3aaccaa627d7a0b8a02fed52037c57&start=2033&end=2824","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5463062-ff3aaccaa627d7a0b8a02fed52037c57/thumbnail_2033000.jpg","/articles/6157877/Washington/Pasco-School-District-projects-shortfall-braces-for-nearly-4-million-in-federal-grant-cuts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6157877-1f3cdb0c3ec3e1a8e1646485790131ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1773573212&Signature=aDJZStWUBafDMMEDzAtwdK7LLUCUcjrW6M40HFwbOId2B5RV1V5eIwMmNOBUIiE-vHm0PhjClOeA36UA16bZrmgyrK1q6NkFSWShbvD5R2Xy4m9xL97m3L3ssz377v7eEiU1i1DrKmomjFpuWahhoMuNHbdMoK7OfS-6gj2uZ6wNXoRr0CkREBM8l4uAlHNzJ7c37wbCI~U5MfF6c3~aS1yxu2XgHza4HkK21Foy5z0ovc012VsfyHzBSN7KSiRJoyg9KhSOcSj-FH7z6LHbDhKUs0kV5GU4G2J-yJgLCDbEllflcHjIDYotnvLPVxRBqjBc79MH2Ae6EVHef2pjsw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pasco School District budget staff on Tuesday presented a preliminary 2025–26 spending plan that projects a multimillion‑dollar operating shortfall and accounts for roughly $4 million in federal grant funding the district has been told it likely will not receive.

The finance presentation to the Pasco School District Board of Directors laid out year‑to‑year assumptions, five fund categories and a four‑year projection intended to return the district to stronger reserves through staffing attrition and other adjustments, while preserving services where possible.

Joey Castilla, the district’s director of fiscal services, told the board the district is coping with factors largely outside local control. “This is a puzzle. … we’re grappling with some funding challenges that honestly are just really outside of the control of the local school districts,” Castilla said during the presentation, later adding of the timing of the federal notice: “the carpet’s been pulled out from under us.”

Why it matters: the budget determines how the district staffs schools, maintains facilities and funds programs for 19,000 students. Trustees were shown a baseline general‑fund position that begins FY2025‑26 with an estimated fund balance of $16.2 million and would end the year near $12.2 million under the current plan, with total general‑fund revenues of about $339.0 million and expenditures of about $343.2 million.

Key details from the presentation
- Federal grants: Superintendent Whitney told the board the $339.0 million revenue figure “includes about $4,000,000 of federal funds that we’re currently not getting,” and district staff built contingencies assuming those grants may be cut effective Oct. 1, the start of the federal fiscal year. The programs named by staff were Title I, Part C (migrant education; ~ $1.5 million), Title II (professional development; ~ $0.5 million), Title III (English‑learner support; ~$855,000), Title IV Part A (supplemental learning/enrichment; just under $500,000) and Title IV Part B (family‑school/community partnerships; ~$563,000).
- Enrollment and apportionment: the district budgeted on a conservative average full‑time enrollment of 17,400 students for 2025‑26 after budgeting 17,663 in 2024‑25 and receiving an actual average of 17,598. State funding is driven by the district’s apportionment (average enrollment), so lower enrollment reduces state revenue.
- Fund balances and reserves: the plan retains the board‑directed 2.5% reserve and special‑purpose assignments (reduced from a prior practice of ~5%). Staff presented a four‑year projection that assumes flat enrollment, 3% year‑over‑year revenue and expenditure growth and planned staffing reductions by attrition totaling $5 million in 2026‑27 and $3 million in each of the two following years to rebuild reserves.
- Capital, ASB and transportation: the capital projects fund begins the year near $65.5 million and is projected to end near $52.0 million as bond‑funded work on new high schools continues. The Associated Student Body fund is healthy and projected to grow ($2.1M start to $2.3M end). The vehicle replacement (yellow bus) fund will use depreciation revenues to replace aging buses; staff noted about 8 buses on order and capacity to purchase more.

Board reaction and options discussed
Trustees pressed staff about timing and the scale of possible actions. Director Norberg urged board members to study the plan and work with staff: “we’ve got to… take this bull by the horns and deal with it,” she said, urging board members to meet with finance staff.

Board members discussed approaches to close the gap. Staff emphasized the district’s preference to achieve necessary savings through natural attrition over the next several years rather than immediate layoffs, but acknowledged layoffs remain an option if attrition and other measures prove insufficient. One board member suggested an accelerated target of $10 million in staffing reductions in 2026‑27 to address the cumulative shortfall faster.

Levy planning and next steps
District staff said the budget presented is a planning document and that the final budget hearing and formal adoption will occur at the board’s Aug. 12 meeting, with a final statutory deadline for adoption later in August if required. Superintendent Whitney and staff indicated the district will advertise the budget and publish required disclosure slides before the hearing, and reiterated that if the federal grants are restored the budget has capacity to accept and spend them without a subsequent extension.

Public comment and transparency requests
A resident who identified herself as Michelle Andries asked the board to break out the roughly $7.1 million listed as Materials, Supplies and Operating Costs (MSOC) for greater taxpayer transparency and suggested the district explore partial self‑insurance for health benefits.

No formal vote or policy change was taken at the meeting; trustees received the information and directed staff to continue refining the plan ahead of the public hearing and final adoption schedule.

Ending note: district staff described 2025‑26 as a difficult transitional year that will require sustained attention to enrollment patterns, grant notifications and staffing decisions; trustees scheduled levy planning and a public budget hearing for August as part of the follow‑up timeline.","District finance staff presented a preliminary 2025–26 budget showing a multi‑million dollar gap driven by lower enrollment, rising costs and expected federal grant reductions; trustees discussed attrition, possible deeper cuts and levy planning.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Pasco board agrees to prepare WSSDA Board of Distinction application, narrows focus to student success and professional development

Pasco School Board swears in four student representatives as district adds two new high schools

Pasco School District projects shortfall, braces for nearly $4 million in federal grant cuts