The Othello School District Board of Directors on Monday discussed a coordinated multi-year approach to school funding that pairs an immediate operating levy with potential capital-levy and bond planning and invited community members to join a new advisory group called the Future Ready Schools team.

Dr. Meek, a district staff member leading the levy work, said the district intends to treat the levy, a potential capital levy and a future bond as “connected” pieces rather than separate campaigns. “The idea would be, to establish this Future Ready Schools, a team of people that are composed of stakeholders, that have some diverse perspectives across the community,” Dr. Meek said. The district plans to include parents, community members, school staff and board representatives on the team.

Board members were told the levy is the most immediate step because “people know in our community what it funds,” and that the advisory team should help align messaging and project planning. The district will update its long-range facility plan as part of the work; staff said a facilities study and survey have already begun.

Pete, a district staff member, described two outside technical supports the district is using: Phil Crocker, a community planning consultant who will join the board’s Oct. 20 site visit at Othello High School, and a construction-management firm—identified in the meeting as Turner & Townsend—that will advise on project budgeting and oversight. "Phil's expertise is really around the community planning, kind of planning out the different projects and how they come together," Pete said.

Staff told the board the advisory team’s recommendations would be brought back for board action either at the Nov. 24 or Dec. 8 meeting, and that materials for a February ballot must be submitted to the county by the twelfth to appear on the Feb. 10 election. Board members were asked to identify community members to serve on the advisory team and to bring guests to the OHS site visit, which staff said will begin at 7:30 a.m. in the high school library on Oct. 20.

The staff presentation also addressed state construction assistance funding. District staff cautioned the board against describing state funds as a simple dollar-for-dollar “match,” and said the state program is better described as the School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP). "That doesn't really work all that well unless you understand we're working with the construction assistance rather than the match for match dollars," Dr. Meek said.

The board discussed timing to avoid a large tax-rate spike: one option discussed is using a capital levy to “bridge” the tax rate between an earlier bond dropping off and a later bond that would become eligible for state assistance. Board members said they intend to monitor other local ballot measures this fall to learn from voter reaction.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to approve tonight's agenda — Mover: Board member (unnamed); Second: Board member (unnamed). Outcome: passed, stated in the meeting as “Motion passes 5 0.”
- Motion to approve required approvals — Mover: Board member (unnamed); Second: Board member (unnamed). Outcome: passed, stated in the meeting as “Motion passes 5 0.”
- Motion to approve accounts payable warrants 2 — Mover: Board member (unnamed); Second: Board member (unnamed). Outcome: passed; meeting audio states "Motion passes for 1 with 1 abstention" (tally not otherwise specified in the transcript).

Why it matters: The board’s discussion frames how Othello will ask voters to fund operations and facilities over the next several years and identifies who will help shape the district’s case in the community. A coordinated advisory team is intended to align project lists, levy timing and messaging before any ballot measure is filed.

What’s next: Staff will convene the advisory team and return a levy recommendation to the board at either the Nov. 24 or Dec. 8 meeting. The site visit to Othello High School is scheduled for Oct. 20 at 7:30 a.m.