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District financial update: safety‑net eligibility rises, capital projects advance and board approves laptop purchase
Summary
Executive Director Paula McCoy told the Ridgefield School District board the district’s safety‑net submission shows preliminary eligibility of about $1.3 million (versus $600,000 budgeted), which will reduce the special‑education deficit; trustees approved several policy updates and a purchase of 105 staff laptops for $113,520.85 and heard updates on roofs, tennis courts and phones.
Executive Director of Business Services Paula McCoy told trustees that a recent state safety‑net submission increased the district’s potential eligibility to roughly $1.3 million, up from the $600,000 the district had budgeted. McCoy said that, if finalized in the state’s August award, the additional eligibility would reduce the district’s projected special‑education deficit by about $700,000.
McCoy also reviewed enrollment and revenue trends (a roughly 90‑FTE year‑to‑date decline), payroll and substitute pressures in February, and the status of the district’s capital projects. She said the first small state match remittance has arrived and the district is temporarily using impact fees and short‑term county treasurer financing to keep new‑school construction cash flowing.
On capital and maintenance, administrators highlighted immediate needs and summer projects: resurfacing tennis courts (estimated at about $80,000), completing parts of the high‑school roof, and replacing a phone system whose vendor is phasing out equipment (net year‑one cost about $40,000 and roughly $21,000 to bring all phones into compatibility). McCoy said the stadium student‑section bleachers will be removed for safety and not replaced, and several deferred‑maintenance items remain on the list.
On consent and policy actions, the board approved multiple revised policies (recorded in the meeting as policies including "21 um 06" program compliance, 2140 comprehensive school counseling, and 5010 discriminationfree workplace) on second readings and voice votes. The board also approved an immediate purchase of 105 Dell staff laptops for $113,520.85 to continue the district’s six‑year staff device rotation and inventory controls.
A motion to enter a 20‑minute executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1)(g) to review employee performance was approved; the public session reconvened with no action taken and the meeting adjourned.
Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda: approved by voice vote (all present said "I"). - Revised board policy number "21 um 06" (program compliance): approved by voice vote. - Revised board policy 2140 (comprehensive school counseling program): approved by voice vote. - Revised board policy 5010 (discrimination‑free workplace): approved by voice vote. - Purchase of 105 Dell laptops for $113,520.85: approved by voice vote. - Executive session convened (RCW 42.30.110(1)(g)): motion carried; no action taken publicly.
Next steps: McCoy said final safety‑net awards will be communicated in August; the board will receive updated financial reports and capital project cost quotes in subsequent meetings.
