Bethel School District

Bethel passes $183 million budget and approves new Director of Special Services

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ADOPT the following policy: 6609, SECURITY ACCESS SYSTEMS IN SCHOOLS

  • Motion by Warren T Smith, second by Stanley E Chapin.
  • Final Resolution: Motion Carries
  • Yes: John L Manning, Brenda L Rogers, Stanley E Chapin, Warren T Smith

ADOPT Resolution 38 (12-13) providing for the approval of the 2013-14 fiscal year budget.

  • Motion by Stanley E Chapin, second by Warren T Smith.
  • Final Resolution: Motion Carries
  • Yes: John L Manning, Brenda L Rogers, Stanley E Chapin, Warren T Smith

ADOPT Resolution 37 (12-13) accepting Pierce County Skills Center Phase 2A as complete in accordance with plans and specifications for the project.

  • Motion by Warren T Smith, second by Brenda L Rogers.
  • Final Resolution: Motion Carries
  • Yes: John L Manning, Brenda L Rogers, Stanley E Chapin, Warren T Smith

ADOPT Resolution 36 (12-13) authorizing the superintendent to execute a real estate purchase and sale agreement representing the highest purchase offer for the disposition of surplus property located at 26611 Meridian Street East, Graham, Washington.

  • Motion by Stanley E Chapin, second by Warren T Smith.
  • Final Resolution: Motion Carries
  • Yes: John L Manning, Brenda L Rogers, Stanley E Chapin, Warren T Smith

APPOINT Thomas Steinbeck as Director of Special Services, effective August 1, 2013.

  • Motion by Stanley E Chapin, second by Brenda L Rogers.
  • Final Resolution: Motion Carries
  • Yes: John L Manning, Brenda L Rogers, Stanley E Chapin, Warren T Smith

Detail on the new $183 million 2013-14 Budget from the Bethel District BoardDocs agenda:

BACKGROUND:

The fiscal year 2013-14 budget has the following changes from FY 2012-13:

  • Schools were changed to a K-5 elementary and 6-8 middle school grade configuration.
  • A new staffing model was developed for 6th grade at middle schools.
  • Additional 0.5 FTE counselor at each middle school.
  • Additional 1.0 FTE associate administrator at each high school.
  • Three new all-day kindergarten schools (ADK) were authorized. This brings the number of District ADK schools to eight (Camas Prairie, Evergreen, Roy, Spanaway, Thompson, Centennial, Rocky Ridge and Shining Mountain.) The District qualifies for state funding for ADK for six schools.
  • Tuition-based ADK was maintained at Graham, Elk Plain, Pioneer Valley, Naches Trail and North Star.
  • Enrollment is forecasted at 17,697 FTE. This is an increase of 578 from the prior budget as follows:
    • 242 FTE is due to qualifying for state-funded ADK
    • 248 FTE is the FY 2012-13 actual increase from budget
    • 88 is the projected enrollment increase for FY 2013-14.
  • Non staff budgets were increased for curriculum, technology, insurance, bus fuel and child nutrition equipment.

STATE LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS

Grade K-4 Staffing Funding

The grade K-4 staffing formula enhancement was eliminated during FY 2010-11. This reduced District funding by $1.6 million and has not been restored.

Initiative 732 Cost of Living Salary Adjustments for School Employees

No salary increase was allocated for certificated and classified staff. The previous biennium reductions of 1.9% for certificated instructional and classified and 3.0% for administrative salaries were restored.

Total budgeted certificated salaries increased from $71.1 million to $73.8 million. Total certificated FTE increased to 1,060.10 from 1,039.45. Total budgeted classified salaries increased from $29.8 million to $30.9 million. Total classified FTE increased from 650.009 to 665.559.

Health Benefit Rates

The employee rate was left unchanged at $768 per month per funded position for 2013-14. This is the third year with no increase.

Employer Pension Rates

The employer rate for pensions increased to 10.39% from 8.05% for the Teachers Retirement System and 9.82% from 7.59% for the School Employees Retirement System.

PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS LEVY

Levy revenues will increase by $0.6 million. State-funded Local Effort Assistance funding will increase by $0.6 million.

REVIEW OF OTHER FUNDS

Transportation Vehicle Fund

The budget for the Transportation Vehicle Fund for 2013-14 is set at $1.3 million. This is an increase from the $0.75 million budgeted for 2012-13. The budget has recovered from the state changing the payment formula for state funding from September to the following August. The budget is now set at the estimated state revenues plus a contingency of $0.2 million.

Capital Projects Fund

The budget for the Capital Projects Fund for 2013-14 is set at $60.6 million. This is an increase from $57.1 million budgeted for 2012-13. This appropriation is sufficient to cover the planned cash flow requirements for 2013-14.

Debt Service Fund

The budget for the Debt Service Fund for 2013-14 is set at $17.0 million. This is a decrease from $17.3 million budgeted for 2012-13.

Associated Student Body Fund

The budget for the Associated Student Body Fund for 2013-14 is set at $4.9 million. This is slight increase from the $4.5 million budgeted for 2012-13. Actual ASB expenditures were $1.6 million for 2011-12.

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