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Midyear budget update: enrollment edges up in K–5, special-education FTE declines; board approves consent items and moves May meetings
Summary
Finance staff reported the midyear budget update showing net FTE up by 48 driven by kindergarten, a decline in special-education FTE, and a narrowed projected deficit; the board approved consent items and voted to change May meeting dates.
Kennewick School District finance staff reported a midyear budget update showing mixed enrollment shifts and a smaller projected general-fund deficit as the board met in February.
Tom Brohart presented the budget snapshot and enrollment data. He said kindergarten and grades K–5 are higher than budgeted — kindergarten accounts for the district’s net increase of 48 full-time-equivalent (FTE) students — while grades 6–12 are down about 91 students relative to the budget. Brohart reported total K–12 FTE is up by 48 to date, and non-BEA (restricted) programs such as CTE and Running Start are up by roughly 138 FTE. He also noted special-education enrollment was lower than budgeted: district projection of about 2,700 students compared with a current count of roughly 2,640.
On revenue and expenditures, Brohart said the district realized roughly $2.6 million in additional revenues from higher LEA allotment, higher transportation funding and the enrollment increases, which, combined with staffing holds of about $2.0 million, narrowed the previously projected $5.5 million deficit to roughly $948,000 at the time of the report.
Brohart warned of rising MSOC (maintenance, supplies and operating costs) pressures — utilities, irrigation, power and insurance — noting insurance exposure could add roughly $1.2 million into next year’s costs depending on carrier rates and disaster exposures. He said certified and classified staffing work for the 2025–26 budget cycle is underway and that the district will finalize staffing in late February or early March, with an anticipated F195 submission to the Educational Service District by July 10.
Votes at a glance
- Consent items: The board voted to approve the consent items as written. Roll call recorded “yes” votes from Mr. Connors, Dr. Miller, Ms. Gledhill, Mr. Valentine and Mr. Galbraith. The motion was moved and seconded in the meeting record; no nay or abstentions were recorded.
- Calendar change: The board voted to move the May 28 meeting to May 21 and the May 14 meeting to May 7. Roll call recorded “yes” votes from Mr. Connors, Dr. Miller, Ms. Gledhill, Mr. Valentine and Mr. Galbraith.
Board members asked questions about kindergarten projections and whether shifts reflected birth rates, private-school movement or other factors; Brohart said kindergarten is difficult to project because no prior cohort data exists and that the district budgets conservatively. Members also discussed MSOC inflation and legislative work to address funding for rising operating costs.
Brohart closed by reminding the board of upcoming budget timeline steps: additional presentations through March–May and a scheduled June 18 hearing with final submissions in July.
