Kensington board approves warrant articles to seed building, special‑education and technology trust funds
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Summary
The board approved placing three warrant articles on the warrant that would move unassigned fund balance to trust funds: up to $50,000 for building repairs/maintenance, $20,000 for special education and $5,000 for technology; motions passed by voice vote and the sums would come from fund balance with no additional amount raised from taxation.
The Kensington School District board unanimously approved motions to place three warrant articles on the district warrant that would use portions of the June 30 unassigned fund balance to seed expendable trust funds for future needs.
At the meeting the board read proposed warrant language and approved: up to $50,000 to the school building repair and maintenance expendable trust fund; up to $20,000 to the special education expendable trust fund; and up to $5,000 to the technology capital reserve fund. Each article includes language that the sums will come from the June 30 fund balance and that "no additional amount will be raised in taxation." The motions carried on voice votes.
Molly (staff) explained the practical effect and why the district is proposing trust funding now: the district’s unassigned fund balance is unusually high this year in part because a posted but unfilled teacher position and insurance savings left more carryover than typical; staff recommended putting a portion of that balance into trusts to avoid future budget shocks when large facilities work is needed.
Board members and staff said the largest near‑term facility expense is replacing or updating a fragmented HVAC system and possibly boilers across three wings of the KES building, and that the capital improvement plan will outline a five‑year approach and vendor options. Staff indicated estimates for initial facilities updates begin in the low hundreds of thousands and that a full replacement could be substantially larger; detailed vendor quotes and the five‑year capital plan are expected to be developed after deliberative and for future meetings.
The board instructed staff to finalize warrant language and gather necessary signatures; the warrant articles will appear on the deliberative warrant and then on the March ballot for voter approval.