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Community members press Shelton board for greater transparency on warrants, RAD spending and launch petition
Summary
Public commenters at the Shelton School District meeting asked the board to publish itemized warrant details and financial oversight measures amid budget concerns, raised questions about the RAD plan’s $541,000 staffing costs, and a resident circulated a petition demanding more transparency.
Two community members used the board’s public comment period Tuesday to ask the Shelton School District for clearer financial transparency and to raise concerns about the proposed Required Action District plan for Evergreen Elementary.
Marilyn Aaron told the board she supports the district’s automotive program but urged the board to publish more detailed information in light of the district’s financial constraints. She asked for itemized warrant details, including vendor names and payment purposes for recent warrants. In her remarks she referenced line items she read from public materials: "there's $55,000 for 10 warrants, dollars 1,900 for 6 warrants, and then there's a single warrant for $15,000" and asked which goods or services those payments covered.
Aaron also questioned the financial assumptions in the Evergreen RAD plan. She said the plan "outlines more than $541,000 in new costs for 4 different positions" and asked whether the positions had been included in the current budget, whether budget amendments would be required and whether the district had a contingency plan if only partial RAD funding is received.
Talissa Wilson said she is circulating a petition demanding increased accountability and transparency from the Shelton School District, offering both in‑person signatures and a virtual form at the URL she read aloud. "We've got boots on the ground getting wet signatures, and we have a virtual version of it going around as well," Wilson said. She told the board that residents often express feeling unheard and urged the district to respond.
Board members did not take formal action in response to the comments at the meeting; public commenters said they would follow up by email. The presenters and board members acknowledged the questions and indicated the budget and RAD funding issues were under review.
