Kennewick board discusses student banquet, explores creating a separate district foundation

Board members at the Kennewick School District’s January retreat discussed creating an end-of-year banquet to honor graduating seniors and considered exploring a separate district foundation to raise private donations.

Board member Josh proposed a banquet to recognize a small group of outstanding seniors from each of the district’s three comprehensive high schools and the alternative high school, saying the event could celebrate students, teachers and parents. Dr. Pierce, the superintendent, and other board members discussed logistics and supported asking staff to draft a proposal and costing for a future meeting.

The proposed banquet would select about 15–20 students from each comprehensive high school plus a small group from the alternative high school, yielding roughly 45–60 honored students who could each bring parents and a teacher of their choosing. Josh suggested covering costs by using money the board members forgo by signing compensation waivers, noting that if board members decline compensation the district budgets those funds and they could be reallocated for a banquet. Board members discussed selection approaches including weighted GPA, category recognition (academic, athletics, service) and limiting the event’s size so it remains celebratory and manageable.

Separately, board members asked whether the district has a vehicle to accept private funds. Dr. Pierce described a district “Student Success Fund” held through the United Way as an existing option to receive earmarked donations, and said a separate foundation — a distinct 501(c)(3) — would be a different, stand-alone organization that could raise money, solicit grants and run fundraising campaigns. He said establishing a true foundation would require independent governance, could include a small number of ex officio board members without controlling the foundation’s direction, and typically needs community organizers or an executive director. He offered to provide more information and to share names of community members who had expressed interest.

Board members asked staff to draft the banquet proposal (including date, venue, selection criteria, program and cost estimates) and to return with proposals about next steps to explore a separate foundation. No formal action or vote was taken at the retreat; the board directed staff to return with proposals for further discussion.

The board placed the banquet and foundation conversation in the district’s broader priority of publicly recognizing school accomplishments, which the board set in its June self-assessment as one of three priorities for 2024–25.

Looking ahead, staff said they will prepare a written proposal and cost estimate and will reach out individually to board members for input before returning to the board with a more detailed plan.