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Colusa County schools shift to distance learning as CCOE accelerates EduNet pilot and adopts budget with reserves
Summary
Facing pandemic constraints, the Colusa County Office of Education approved a 2020–21 budget that relies on reserves while accelerating an EduNet pilot to connect students without home internet and adopting a COVID-19 operations plan to guide reopening and services.
The Colusa County Office of Education approved its 2020–21 budget and a COVID-19 Operations Written Report as school districts and the county navigated pandemic-related closures and planning. Superintendent Michael West told the Board that county COVID-19 case counts were low but that ‘‘staff are heroes one and all’’ for work maintaining meal distribution, facility sanitation, and distance-learning supports during the emergency (SEG 616–617).
The Board voted to adopt the budget after Business Services Director Aaron Heinz presented projections that show short-term deficit spending but healthy reserves (reported at roughly 34–35 percent) to buy time for multiyear planning. Heinz said the district will reduce discretionary spending and examine salaries and benefits to address structural risks, while noting pension liabilities remain a long-term concern (SEG 792–794). The Board also approved Resolution No. 19/20-07 to account for Education Protection Account funds restricted to instructional uses (SEG 795–796).
CCOE simultaneously moved forward on technology to support remote learning. Alex Evans reported an EduNet test pilot with Williams Unified School District to provide LTE routers and localized Wi‑Fi for students without internet service; the plan calls for distributing equipment during district Chromebook rollouts and working with partners including Sprint, Frontier, and Upstate California Connect Consortium (SEG 694–695, SEG 780). Evans cautioned that nationwide shortages of hotspots and LTE inventory are constraining immediate scale-up.
The budget action and operational plan aim to protect essential services — food distribution, childcare for essential workers, and Special Education distance plans — while staff plan phased reopening protocols tied to county public-health guidance. The Board stressed the need to monitor fiscal assumptions and health metrics as the next school year approaches.
