School board approves new budgets

Wahkiakum School Board met July 19 to approve the district’s budget for the coming school year. In addition, the board discussed transportation to a transition program for special education students, considered a change order for ongoing maintenance work, and approved changes to the high school student handbook.

After discussing the proposed 2011-2012 fiscal year budget with District Superintendent Bob Garrett, the board voted to adopt it as submitted. The line item expenditure budget is broken down into the following categories:

General Fund: $4,954,759

Associated Student Body Fund: $156,530

Debt Service Fund: $212,220

Capital Projects Fund: $200,000

Transportation Vehicle Fund: $0.

Board Member Lee Tischer asked how bus maintenance expenses are categorized, since the transportation vehicle fund expenditures are budgeted at zero.

The actual maintenance and operation costs are part of the general fund, explained Garrett, clarifying that there was no need to budget anything because the district will need to wait several more years to accumulate enough in the fund to replace another bus. State depreciation allocations for bus purchases are paid out over a 10 year period, added Garrett.

Enrollment is projected to be smaller than last year by 16 full-time students. Garrett reported the average enrollment for the 2009-2010 school year was 448.38 students, while the budget for 2010-2011 is based on an enrollment of 432. Garrett attributed the enrollment reduction to a smaller than average kindergarten class of 16 half time students.

Five Wahkiakum students will enroll in a new transitional program for high school special education students, said Garrett, and asked the board to consider purchasing a dedicated vehicle for their commute to the program’s Longview campus. Six local school districts are cooperating to hold the program, which is intended to prepare 17-21 year old special education students for life after high school.

The students will gain work experience at a thrift shop, a dog biscuit baking operation, and a child care center / preschool. Special education aide Jill Baier will accompany the students except for their travel home on Tuesday afternoons, when the students will ride the Wahkiakum on the Move bus.

The program is scheduled to allow the students to arrive and leave Wahkiakum High School on regularly scheduled school bus runs. Garrett explained it would be most cost effective for Baier to drive the students to Longview in one of the school’s two SUVs rather than sending a bus and driver with the students and Baier. The district’s Ford Excursion and Chevy Suburban are used frequently for extracurricular activities or staff travel, although transportation of the students would take precedence. Thus, buses might occasionally be assigned to extracurricular groups small enough to travel in a passenger vehicle, said Garrett.

The board considered purchasing an additional passenger vehicle dedicated to transporting the students to Longview but decided to hold off on a decision until December.

The board considered a possible change order to the asphalt work being done by Naselle Rock and Asphalt, but did not approve the additional expense.

Garrett told the board that after talking with the company about the progress of their work, District Maintenance Supervisor Bob McClintock had approached him about paving a small area in front of the maintenance shop once the company has completed their other projects for the district.

The project is on McClintock’s list of future projects, said Garrett. The estimated cost could be up to $25,000 and would have to be funded from the general fund, explained Garrett, since the budgeted funds for capital projects are allocated for the ongoing work.

“Normally I don’t bring an item like this and expect a decision tonight, but they are here now and will be gone by the August board meeting," Garrett said. "I’m not thrilled with spending more money but fiscally we are in a position to do this and not have a big adverse impact on the budget.”

Board Member Lee Tischer moved to approve the change order, commenting that chip seal treatment on the road did not hold up due to its constant use by busses. Board Member Mike Quigley seconded, but the motion did not pass.

High School Principal Dan Casler briefed the board on proposed changes to the high school student handbook, including changes to the dress code. The language now reads: “Tank / sleeveless tops are not permitted during school hours as they may be a distraction to the learning environment. They are permitted for athletic participation with straps a minimum of one inch and must not have large arm holes.”

Casler said wearing something over tank tops would be acceptable. Additionally, the policy mandates that sheer clothing or clothing with holes must be worn with appropriate clothing underneath.

Quigley asked him to clarify if that meant no more jeans with holes. Casler explained that jeans cannot have holes above fingertip length, the length required for shorts or skirts.

Additional changes were made to handbook policies regarding excusing absences, attendance requirements for participation in extracurricular activities, and consequences for the use or possession of alcohol and illegal drugs.

The board approved the proposed changes.