Votes at a glance: board approves charter renewal and Elkhorn modernization budget increase, several contracts and purchases

The Washington Unified School District Board of Education took several formal actions during its April 10 meeting. Key approved items included the five‑year renewal of a charter school, an increase in the Elkhorn Village modernization budget drawn from bond interest, and procurement contracts for campus infrastructure and devices.

Votes and key details

- Washington Middle College High School charter renewal — approved (motion carried by roll call). The board approved a five‑year renewal after staff and legal counsel reviewed the petition and determined the charter met the district’s requirements for renewal as a middle‑performing charter school. Roll call: Trustee Castro Aye; Vice President Coffey Aye; Trustee Hunt Aye; Trustee Wong Aye; motion recorded as approved.

- Elkhorn Village modernization budget increase — approved. The board approved a $4,000,000 increase to the project budget (from $59,319,000 to $63,319,000) to cover design revisions after high inflation and cost escalation. Funding source: transfer from bond interest earnings (district cited approximately $4.9 million in interest available). Motion made by Trustee Wong, seconded by Vice President Coffey; roll call vote recorded in favor.

- Approval of contract: Network Management Corporation — approved. Contract to replace River City High School clock and speaker system (digital clocks, bells and associated cabling). Low bid: Network Management Corporation $528,000; total not‑to‑exceed with allowances $628,000. Funding source: deferred maintenance fund (Fund 14).

- Technology procurement: student Chromebooks and staff notebooks — approved. The board authorized purchase of approximately 1,400 student Chromebooks (vendor CDW; $623,409.50) and 125 HP Elite staff notebooks as part of the district’s five‑year refresh cycle; funds were included in the district technology budget and refresh plan.

- Approval of instructional calendar 2026–27 — approved. The board approved the instructional calendar that meets state instructional‑minute requirements and shifts a longer spring break window based on prior community input.

Other action items approved included Middle College national consortium conference attendance for two staff, standards‑institute professional learning funding for district teachers, and amendments to expanded learning program vendor contracts to provide summer enrichment. Several routine consent agenda items and contracts were also approved by roll call.

Items not acted or left open

- Resolution to close Washington Unified Virtual Academy (WUVA): No final board vote to close the program was recorded. Trustees discussed options staff presented (including a reduced grade‑span model and independent‑study variants). No motion to adopt the closure resolution was made; the board directed staff to pursue an option that would keep the program open under a revised model (staff presented a preferred “Option 1” that would maintain face‑to‑face minutes for grades 4–8 and avoid a general‑fund contribution). Outcome: no action to close; staff were asked to follow up.

Ending: The board approved the major capital and procurement items listed above and asked staff to return with additional implementation details where needed (Elkhorn schedule, WUVA operational option and SRO next steps).