Olympia School District brings in additional funding after successful lobbying

After the court decided to halt school closure processes last week, Olympia School District (OSD)’s 2023-2024 projected ending fund balance (EFB) is now set to $9,800,927 million.

There is a $1.3 million net increase to this year's EFB compared to the $8.5 million total EFB  presented last February 22.

There is $518,000 in new funding for 2023-2024, attributed to levy collections and successful legislative lobbying.

• SB 5882, which increases the paraeducator and school professionals to student ratio, bringing in $316,000 per year beginning 2023-2024
• HB 2494, which increases per pupil Materials, Supplies and Operating Costs rates for General Education by $21 per pupil, bringing in $202,000 per year beginning 2023-2024
• HB 2180, which increases the special education enrollment funding cap from 15% to 16%, bringing in $1,024,000 per year, beginning in the next school year, 2024-2025
• HB 5852 limits what the committee may review during the Safety Net application and review process with a yet-to-be-determined amount.

Executive Director of Business and Capital Projects Kate Davis briefed the board on the new budget developments.

“A lot has happened from a fiscal standpoint over the last few weeks...It is going to continue to change until we approve the budget in June,” said Davis.

Superintendent Patrick Murphy clarified once again that the budget is “iterative” or constantly changing.

“We have a legislative calendar that does not match with our school year calendar. So, sometimes when we are doing things, we are waiting for information,” said Murphy.

Davis also said that the district applied for $1,907,155 for the Special Education Safety Net, although it had initially budgeted $1.5 million.

OSD anticipates receiving about $1,870,000 based on historical approval of about 98%.

“The decisions made by the board and the cuts we made last year better positioned us this year,” said Murphy.

“I know that last year, when we were in those tougher times, we're talking about the potential for school closures that was taken off the table as an option, until we got a process. Which we got lots of feedback and comment about how that process can be improved,” Murphy added.

The budget review with the board is set for April 11 to review preliminary estimates and recommendations.

The budget documents are set to be available on the OSD website between June 7 to 10, the public hearing and first reading on June 13, and the budget adoption on June 27.

Executive Director of Business and Capital Projects Kate Davis briefed the Olympia School District Board on the changes in the projected Ending Fund …