LCSD board approves 2019-20 budget, hears presentation

CHELAN - Lake Chelan School District Board Chair Jim Colbert began the July 30 meeting with a questions and comments period relative to the 2019-2020 budget in which no members of the public had any input.

District business manager Scott Renick provided the Board an overview of this year’s budget. Renick mentioned that there are three items that make up the budget; 1. State funding which is based only on enrollment, 2. Transportation and 3. Food service based on number of meals. In the General Fund, the District estimates over $21 million in revenues. “Both the revenue piece and the expenditure piece include about $800,000 in added capacity,” said Renick. That extra money is added in case next year’s enrollment fluctuates, the extra is also there in case the District gets grants that would require them to use money from the General Fund. This year, Renick anticipates that the District will have “a break even year.”

Afterwards, the Board voted and approved the 2019-2020 District budget.

The Board heard Teaching and Learning Director Heidi Busk presentation on the highly capable, English Language Learners (ELL) and Professional Development programs in the District. In her presentation Busk reported that this year 57 students qualified for the highly capable program, out those students 21 percent are Hispanic. Busk compared 2018, 2019 District and state wide ELL data to show the Board the success the program is having in exiting students in the third through tenth grade. In 2019, 51 students exited the ELL program which Busk mentioned is a good percentage number. Last year alone, 103 teachers logged 1,325 hours of in-District professional development training. For the upcoming school year, Busk reported that in the teacher’s contract for the year, the teacher will get an additional paid day to attend a professional development workshop after school.

Superintendent Barry DePaoli reported to the Board that five candidates will be interviewed for the Special Programs Director position. DePaoli also mentioned that WSDOT needs a small portion of land on Farnham Street owned by the District in order for them to upgrade the ADA ramp. “They would pay us $500,” said DePaoli. The board agreed and Colbert signed the authorization for the easement. The two flashing beacons in front of Chelan High School are almost completed and should be ready for the upcoming school year. “We should have a safer pedestrian crossing, it is not going to reduce traffic, but it is going to make it safer,” said DePaoli. Similarly, the beacons at Morgen Owings Elementary will be “safer for the kids.”

DePaoli presented a proposal of rental rates for the conference and board rooms. His proposal included weekday rentals for $125 for one to four hours, $200 for a full day. “If they do weekends it will be same charge, plus custodian fee,” explained DePaoli. The rentals would include the use of technology and would be limited to seminars, classes or any other professional use. The District will not charge non-profit groups for utilizing the rooms.