[{"_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",6139543,"mediaKeyId","5580744-6eda6ed661c31884d52ba6716d462bfb","parentId",5580744,"title","Othello board approves agenda and required items; early warrants pass with one abstention","audioSeconds",139,"startMs",36000,"endMs",175000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5580744-6eda6ed661c31884d52ba6716d462bfb&start=36&end=175","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5580744-6eda6ed661c31884d52ba6716d462bfb/thumbnail_36000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6139543/Washington/Othello-board-approves-agenda-and-required-items-early-warrants-pass-with-one-abstention","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6139543-2db03976994c267bae8ff7b644fb66ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1775069516&Signature=PQS66oKe9Ty7y4ibH5VyYlMJsX2NaFOnQqad-gmNwzREwzT6v1PAFiSe3lQPeuxDSQDDLq9dE4TMV0CkA4QPe7CZWHfaDQaEWiz~azDyy9qq1g2~XORZ2uFFkEr~Plt6oSFUdOdZpQzFEVihzFlx9LBLMTNl3FXFIMw0Daq-C4DykTKVe3TQU6b2n7QrJaUOPbVueY35Q9iPMRb1QmzbNnL795EgQoRVuXcHt3emh4dbrAWuh41pSiGCCmZEvELOJ-oo0uhEef8OrCFvC1lA221btaDxf0LTP-Jt6xJuOHfLDL5TYecg7iIL9drRsteIvHlkjz4U7h3qEfpsP715GQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Othello School District, Washington","date","2025-08-12T14:46:44Z","article","At the start of the meeting the Othello School District Board of Directors approved the meeting agenda and a set of required approvals, and later voted on early accounts payable warrants.

The board chair called for a motion to approve the agenda; a motion was made and seconded and the board voted \"Aye,\" with the chair recording the motion as passing 4–0.

The board then voted to approve required approvals for the meeting. After a motion and second, members voted \"Aye\" and the chair announced the motion passed 4–0.

Later, the board considered early accounts payable warrants. A motion to approve the warrants was made and seconded; the chair recorded the vote as passing with three \"Aye\" votes and one abstention.

Nut graf: these were procedural votes to open the meeting and authorize routine fiscal items; the board did not record additional detail in the transcript about which warrants or invoices were included beyond the label \"early accounts payable warrants 2.\" The board moved next to informational items, chiefly the superintendent's budget presentation.

Ending: the votes were recorded on the public record and the meeting proceeded to the budget presentation and other business.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","OSD Board Meeting - 8.11.2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Othello School District board approved the meeting agenda and required approvals by unanimous votes, and approved early accounts payable warrants with a 3-yes, 1-abstention vote.","taxTitle","Othello School District, School Districts, Washington","taxId",55334,"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},6139549,"Othello School District updates athletics and activities handbook; sets clearer eligibility thresholds",179,319000,498000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5580744-6eda6ed661c31884d52ba6716d462bfb&start=319&end=498","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5580744-6eda6ed661c31884d52ba6716d462bfb/thumbnail_319000.jpg","/articles/6139549/Washington/Othello-School-District-updates-athletics-and-activities-handbook-sets-clearer-eligibility-thresholds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6139549-ac762a7d2fd27912ee91e9b35bdb5a01/orig.mp4?Expires=1775069516&Signature=U141SKtNWhJpaHiTwBYrxZOtVfzoOFVd5PVZotLijPMFTFBPlQ9MzFDjQDDmNTAv~sWfqOTYokGGpyE~MlIwukC3cTR~8kC~g92pZFVY7oP8SN~-6sL3c6WEzTjWmrrSxQI49ZYND-jsRaEscHTHzbM4R3oPRxOdtnaXu13qEdmHdISPPHTHlxUeqfmCOjHz7fQDSuopdmf6q8GKb2yRqo7pFNck6YVpTr3BggiMPnGoRLn3Acal6Kz4UiAvz3e9Vs1BCssiywIQFXWKb-Us8L7xEXWRdhRA-~v63Rfd7Zo9aWPBoeYdCCqNS6B-OvSCOeqE3qpn5iAWR1QqQ6dA6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carlos Gonzales told the Othello School District Board on Thursday that the district has revised its athletics and activities handbook to align with the district's graduate profile and to clarify eligibility requirements for grades 7–12.

Gonzales said the handbook revision begins with an expanded athletics philosophy developed with stakeholders that ties athletic participation to five components of the graduate profile: critical thinking, community, communication, learning and advocacy.

The nut graf: the revisions set clear, measurable thresholds for participation. Gonzales said, \"students must be in class and on time at least 90% of the time or greater in a 4 week period\" to maintain eligibility, and that behavior thresholds limit eligibility to students with no more than one Skyward referral in a rolling four‑week window. He said the committee also revised academic language that previously barred any failing grades and moved to a threshold-based approach.

Gonzales said the handbook and a public link to the document are available for review. He described implementation steps including monitoring systems at the high school and middle school and noted exceptions for excused absences such as medical appointments, funerals and other unavoidable circumstances.

Board members praised the approach as balancing accountability and student support. A board comment noted that coaches also must be held accountable and that the changes aim to prepare students for post‑secondary success as well as competitive athletics.

Ending: the board received the informational presentation; the handbook materials will be available publicly and will return to the board in a later meeting if a formal adoption step is required.","Carlos Gonzales presented revisions to the Othello School District athletics and activities handbook, including an expanded philosophy tied to the district's graduate profile and new 7-12 eligibility thresholds for attendance, behavior and academics.",{"_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},6139554,"Othello School District projects multi‑year deficit, urges levy vote to blunt shortfall",4769,164000,4933000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5580744-6eda6ed661c31884d52ba6716d462bfb&start=164&end=4933","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5580744-6eda6ed661c31884d52ba6716d462bfb/thumbnail_164000.jpg","/articles/6139554/Washington/Othello-School-District-projects-multiyear-deficit-urges-levy-vote-to-blunt-shortfall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6139554-49c0c2a790f552ecdc7cd9bd373ff7a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775069516&Signature=V21Gd9GRET2beDruQDFuhaRNBVNPZNQKKllUp6qLzl4EOgy7hwlrpmFJXZcIjGG0JrY3BGdawVrWXjPZcncJVKmAu12jFqZhbn5bPSORpU6LvH30eJH4zPoiCfQtELT8sYzNcq6yQlYsFnRWcUh2Zr0i3o~CndalKkWS3cM2GEHjhxMBdHIBspXT2cj3EUOXzq812qnD0UTEj12Vd0G3~kjnC9lcGdjJbml7cIQ8XpFzHNQb6balyGpAgt-3vV2SZjlKF9KmFsL5QITMl9HLnF~7Oyukotn7aQdsFJfZKZBpV46h7kn1iD4LHaLcKGU44u2XtD60di6IB4nkRoq5GA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Othello School District Superintendent Dr. Perez on Thursday presented a 2025-26 budget that projects a falling fund balance over a four-year forecast and warns the district could run into cash‑flow problems without additional revenue or continued reductions in staff and expenses.

Dr. Perez told the board the district's beginning fund balance in the budget is $13,800,000 and that the proposed 2025-26 revenues of roughly $84.5 million minus planned expenditures would reduce the ending fund balance by about $2,600,000. The presentation included a four‑year forecast showing the district's ending fund balance dropping to an estimated $319,000 by 2028-29 in a scenario that assumes current staffing and that a supplemental levy passes.

The nut graf: the board was shown that without structural change or new, sustained revenue the district's reserves would fall below recommended levels and could trigger binding conditions under state rules. Dr. Perez said the district currently projects 46 operating days of reserve in 2025-26 and could fall to 1.2 days by 2028-29 if no action is taken — well below the State Auditor's recommendation of about 60 operating days.

Key details from the presentation: the 2.5% implicit price deflator (IPD) set by OSPI accounts for part of a roughly $2.3 million revenue increase in 2025-26, but rising personnel costs (including step increases) and declining federal grant carryover reduce that benefit. The district noted a $7.4 million debt service balance as of Dec. 31, 2024, and said no transfers between funds are planned for 2025-26.

Finance staff and board members traced the shortfall to a combination of declining enrollment and rising personnel and benefits costs. The presentation highlighted that the district expects enrollment of about 4,023 students in 2025-26, down from recent years, and that while the district has reduced roughly 17.5 certificated full‑time equivalent positions compared with last year, payroll and benefit increases mean total expenditures decline only modestly.

\"This budget reflects the really hard choices that we have made the past couple of years, and this one coming year is gonna be even harder,\" Dr. Perez said.

The superintendent and finance staff explained several revenue factors: a temporary boost under House Bill 2049 tied to local effort assistance if a levy passes, limitations on carryover of federal grants, and the prototypical funding model used by OSPI. They also noted uncertainty in federal funding given congressional activity in Washington, D.C., that could reduce federal special‑purpose revenues.

Board discussion acknowledged the district has used reserves and one-time ESSER resources in recent years to smooth the transition from higher staffing levels following pandemic‑era funding. Several directors emphasized that the district must continue rightsizing staff while protecting instruction.

The board was told next steps: a public budget hearing scheduled for Aug. 25, a formal budget resolution that night, and an Aug. 31 submission deadline to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Dr. Perez said the Educational Service District (ESD) has reviewed the budget.

Ending: the presentation concluded with a multi‑year forecast and a clear choice presented to the board: reduce staffing and recurring costs further, seek contractual concessions, or rely on additional state or local revenue. The finance team asked the board to share the materials with community members ahead of the Aug. 25 hearing so residents can review the forecast and levy implications.","Superintendent Dr. Perez and finance staff presented the district's 2025-26 budget showing a projected drop in the ending fund balance and a multi‑year decline to as few as 1.2 operating days of reserve without policy changes or a successful levy; the board set a public budget hearing for Aug. 25 and a submission deadline of Aug. 31 to OSPI.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Othello board approves agenda and required items; early warrants pass with one abstention

Othello School District updates athletics and activities handbook; sets clearer eligibility thresholds

Othello School District projects multi‑year deficit, urges levy vote to blunt shortfall