Othello School Board reviews 2017-18 budget

OTHELLO — The Othello School District is projected to spend $58.3 million for the 2017-18 school year. The proposed budget was presented to the Othello School Board at its last meeting.

That’s a 5.91 percent increase from the 2016-17 budget, said assistant superintendent Gina Bullis.

The general fund budget includes most district operations; it was projected at $55,014,124. The debt service fund was budgeted at $2,219,725. The capital projects fund was projected at $350,000.

The ASB fund (which includes all seven schools in the district) was projected at $458,576. The transportation vehicle fund can only be used to pay for buses and is budgeted at $290,000.

Education funding is driven by student enrollment, which is expected to increase in 2017-18.

The 2017 Washington Legislature gave a 2.3 percent raise to district employees, “not just teachers but classified (non-certificated) staff that are funded there (through state basic school support),” Bullis said. The current contract with the Othello Education Association includes a 5 percent raise for certificated (teaching) staff, she said.

The capital projects fund pays for construction projects. Bullis said most of the money in the fund for 2017-18 is designated for the ongoing construction of the tennis courts at Othello High School.

The debt service fund pays for construction bonds previously approved by voters.

The district will receive about $6 million in additional funding, Bullis said. “We added 14 certificated staff across (the district),” she said. The preschool program will be expanded, and so will the district’s teacher mentorship program and other teacher training opportunities.

A vocational class will be added at McFarland Middle School, and more vocational STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) classes will be added at OHS, Bullis said.

The district will receive more money for its bilingual program, and additional LAP money; both are federal programs.

Because Othello schools are growing, district officials have added a human resources department as part of a reorganization in the district office. The growing student population means the food service and transportation departments – and their expenses – are growing too, Bullis said. The transportation vehicle fund budget includes money for two new school buses.

In other business, board members voted to hire Josh Tovar as the new principal at Desert Oasis High School. Previously Tovar worked as the vice principal at McFarland Middle School. He replaces Russ Kovalenko, who announced his resignation, said board chair Juan Garza.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.