Ridgefield board authorizes up to $2.5 million transfer for roof replacements, approves policy updates

Ridgefield — The Ridgefield School Board on Monday approved Resolution 2024-2025-015 authorizing an interfund transfer of up to $2.5 million from the general fund to the capital projects fund to pay for roof replacements at Union Ridge Elementary and Richfield High School.

The transfer was presented as necessary to complete two urgent projects this summer after a facilities assessment identified a core elementary roof needing a full 30-year replacement (estimated $2.3 million) and replacement of the first half of the high-school roof (estimated $1.2 million). Paula McCoy, the district’s executive director of business services, told the board the projects together would cost roughly $3.5 million while the district’s maintenance reserve held about $1.5 million plus roughly $81,000 of interest earnings that could be used. The resolution would move up to $2.5 million to cover the work while leaving a remaining balance in the reserve, McCoy said.

Board members asked whether the transfer would leave the district above its required fund-balance policy. A district presenter replied that, with planned underspending and stronger-than-expected spring property-tax receipts, projections still keep the district above its fund-balance threshold despite a projected overall deficit for the 2024–25 year.

In the same meeting the board approved a package of revised policies, moving each by voice vote as presented. The items adopted included:

- Policy 5201: Drug-free schools, community and workplace (updated to reflect current WASDA model language); - Policy 5280: Separation from employment (brought current with model updates); - Policy 6890: State Environmental Policy Act compliance (related to construction projects); - Policy 6950: Contractor assurances, bonds and insurance (updated ahead of the upcoming construction procurement).

Motions for the consent agenda and the policy approvals were made and seconded on the record; the meeting transcript records a voice vote in favor for each motion but does not record a roll-call tally in the public minutes.

The board also heard construction and procurement updates (see separate article). Before adjourning, members entered an executive session to evaluate employee performance under RCW 42.30.110(1)(g); no action was announced upon return and the meeting was adjourned.

What’s next: Staff said contractor recommendations and bids for the new-school construction and related projects are expected to come back to the board on June 10, with contractor mobilization currently targeted for mid‑June.