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Washburn School District board approves student trips, graduation date, salary increase and line of credit
Summary
The Washburn board approved a New York music trip for 2027, a senior trip and other routine items including a 2.63% CPI salary increase, a $750,000 line of credit and a change to the 2027 graduation date. Several motions passed with at least one recorded opposition.
The Washburn School District board approved several routine agenda items and student activities at its meeting, including a music-department trip to New York in spring 2027, a senior-class trip, a 2.63% CPI salary increase for 2026–27, and a $750,000 line of credit to help manage cash-flow timing.
A presenter from the music department recapped a recent June trip to Walt Disney World that involved about 30 students and included musical clinics and a professional recording-style "soundtrack experience." The same presenter asked the board to approve a proposed music trip to New York in 2027, citing opportunities to perform on the USS Intrepid flight deck, attend a Broadway workshop and visit cultural sites. The board moved, seconded and approved the trip; one vote in opposition was recorded.
Board members asked how the trip would be funded and whether students with disabilities would be able to participate. The presenter said families pay by a combination of fundraising and direct payment and that the district has in past used special-education or district funds to cover additional support when needed. Cost estimates given on the record were roughly $2,000 per student for coach-bus travel and about $3,000 for airfare; organizers plan to begin collecting deposits in the coming months.
Other motions approved during the meeting included:
- Approval of February financial statements after an audit review (motion carried; one opposition noted).
- Adoption of the consent agenda and the second reading of a graduation-requirement policy (motions carried).
- Approval of the senior-class trip and participation in the state solo/ensemble competition (motions carried).
- Setting high-school graduation for Friday, May 28, 2027 at 6 p.m. The trustees said the date was chosen to avoid conflicts with state track and to increase community availability.
- A 2.63% CPI salary increase for 2026–27 (motion carried).
- Approval of a $750,000 line of credit through Old National Bank for operational cash-flow needs; board members said use of the line is expected to be infrequent but prudent.
Each motion was moved and seconded on the record; several votes recorded "one opposed" but exact tallies were not specified in the transcript. The open meeting concluded after the board voted to enter closed session.
What’s next: Staff said they will begin deposit collection for the New York trip and continue work on strategic-plan objectives and finance focus groups that will follow up on budget priorities discussed earlier in the meeting.
Representative quotes from the meeting:
"We had about 30 kids go... the band did Rapunzel and the choir did one on a different day," the music presenter said summarizing the Disney soundtrack experience.
"We just want to be sure that we're well covered," a board member said regarding the approved $750,000 line of credit.
