Royal School District approves 2021-22 budget

by Rachal Pinkerton, For the Columbia Basin Herald
| August 4, 2021 1:00 AM

ROYAL CITY — The Royal School District board on July 26 approved the budget for the 2021-22 school year.

The district expects to have a basic education full-time equivalent (FTE) of 1,686 students. This is the same number budgeted for the 2020-21 school year, with the actual student FTE at 1,679. The previous two school years have had fewer students than budgeted.

The general fund is expected to receive $27,915,375 and spend $27,915,374. The associated student body fund expects $297,750 in revenue and have $296,850 in expenditures. The debt services fund is expected to receive $1,456,461 and spend $1,505,000. The capital projects fund expects to get $11,463,381 in revenue and have $15,720,000 in expenditures. The transportation vehicle fund is expected to receive $95,250 and spend $175,000.

Of the revenue projected to be received, 76% will come from the state, 13% will be federal revenue, 6% will be from state levy equalization and 5% will be from local revenue.

Royal School District Superintendent Roger Trail said this year’s budget is larger than previous years due to money given to the district for COVID-19 mitigation.

Trail said that for the upcoming school year, the district plans to bring all students back. Because of the governor’s current order, masks will be required for all staff members and students while indoors, regardless of vaccination status.

The school board has sent a letter to the governor, the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Washington State Secretary of Health, asking them to reconsider this order. In the letter, the board asked the governor to consider equity and the hindrance to English Language Learners that masks pose. They stated the side effects of mask wearing, such as headaches, dermatitis, etc, can hinder learning. They also cited the lack of any child deaths in the county from COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines are available to those 12 years old and older, and the virus does not pose problems for those of school age.