School Board adopts $5.7m budget

POMEROY–School District Business Manager Kelly McKeirnan presented the 2020-21 school budget of $5,588,119, based on projected enrollment of 290 students, which was approved by the School Board following the public hearing July 27. In addition, student registration is set for the week of August 17, 2020, two weeks prior to the planned first day of school on August 31, 2020.

The Pomeroy School District (PSD) 2020-21 year will start with an expected revenue of $5,588,119, which is an increase of $9,890 from the 2019-20 budget. Also, $5,704,241 is the estimated amount of expenses, an increase from 2019-20 of about $10,000.

It does include a 1.6% salary increase, as well as higher benefits costs. The budget also includes $100,000 for capital expenditures and a $40,000 “cushion.” The General Fund began the 2019-20 school year with $659,512, and ended the year with $800,000. The 2020-21 beginning balance will be $1,000,000, with an expected ending balance of $858,878.

There were some major expenditures in July, including new lighting installed in the elementary gym by Flynn’s Electric for $21,202.35; security cameras for the elementary school, which will be installed by school district maintenance staff, for $29,720.52; and new volleyball nets purchased for $12,137.35.

Superintendent Rachel Gwinn explained that the expected enrollment number remains uncertain due to some parents expressing concern over sending their children back to school in the fall. A survey was sent out to all parents of elementary students, but few responded. Amy Miller, Jr./Sr. High School Principal, chose not to send out a survey because, according to Gwinn, she has been working with her staff and already has a good idea of how many students to expect.

Gwinn is concerned with the number of families who may choose not to send their children to public school due to concerns with COVID-19, and instead enroll them in online education. She will be working with Miller and the PSD teaching staff to find ways to support both in-class and distance learning through the school district so that students can remain enrolled with the PSD while attending at home. “Losing students could significantly impact our budget, which will significantly impact programs and staff,” Gwinn said. “Our budget is based on student Full-Time Enrollment (FTE), which we have set at 290. Having less than 290 students enrolled will have a significant impact.”

High School History teacher Jessica Wolf presented textbooks to be purchased and used for the new formatted Washington State History (WHS) curriculum. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is requiring the PSD to switch WSH, typically taught as a tenth-grade class, to a Jr. High level class, which will now be taught as an eighth–grade class here. The new textbook content remains the same but are printed at a level suitable for the eight-grade reader.

Transportation Supervisor Jay Franks had submitted a recommendation to award a contract for fuel for the 2020-21 school year to Coleman Oil, which was approved by the board. Franks also asked for approval to surplus a 1996 Chevy Lumina, which had been used for Driver’s Education instruction, but has not been used recently. It is a 4-door sedan with a V-6 engine, and currently has about 165,000 miles on the odometer. The sale of the Lumina will also include a set of mounted snow tires. The surplus of the Lumina was approved.

A grant application has been submitted for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund to make up for the lost revenue.

Because the district was unable to replace retired band teacher Marcus Pedersen, there will be no band. Due to massive parental objection, the OSPI-required sex education curriculum has been suspended and will be on the November ballot as Referendum 90. There will be no implementation of the curriculum in the 2020-21 school year.