MLSD continues working toward balanced budget

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District Board of Directors continued to develop a balanced district budget during its regular Thursday meeting. District staff highlighted significant budget cuts, previous spending and highlights from the previous school year during the meeting.

Since the end of May the district has cut 12.5 positions in the district office saving $1.13 million. The district also cut 4.5 building administrators positions which will save a total of about $730,000. The district cut 119 positions and issued 11 non-renewal notices for the Moses Lake Education Association which saved the district a little more than $10.8 million. It also cut 143 public school employees which resulted in a savings of more than $7.1 million.

Despite these measures, the district still faces a budget shortfall of about $3.6 million, according to a Moses Lake School District Press Release issued July 9. The final budget must be presented to the board for approval in August. If the district fails to develop a balanced budget, it will enter binding conditions with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, resulting in reduced local control over financial decisions.

The finalized budget is due for approval by Aug. 19, according to the Office of the Superintendent for Public Instruction’s website.

The school board continues to explore additional cost-cutting measures to achieve a balanced budget.

Toward that end, the district has cut 30 administrators' $120 monthly phone stipends to $50 a month, which will save the district about $29,400. The school district also removed vehicle allowance contracts which will save $30,000, staff said during the meeting.

At the school board meeting Interim Superintendent Carol Lewis said 11 positions will be cut in technology staff. The district has the funds to employ five technology staff members, a director and a secretary. Lewis said these reductions will impact the district’s ability to maintain current service levels and device support.

“Every student has a Chromebook which requires repairs to ensure they are able to do their assigned work,” Chris Castro, technology support specialist said. “In the age we are living in, teachers are assigning most assignments online and there are even classes that are online only. With that information, it is crucial to know that cutting technology positions will only have a negative impact on the success of our students.”

Lewis said staff extra duty pay had an average of $5.2 million over the past five years. Extra duty pay can include anything from another teacher working in a classroom during their work period, overtime, stipends, classroom overages, extracurricular contracts, cashouts and gate and ticket staffing.

The average has gone up slightly, said Lewis, because the numbers she had presented were up to date as of June 24, 2024, which is half the fiscal year. So far they have spent $1.2 million on that budget item. Reducing that expense is one of several avenues the district may adopt to balance the budget.

Lewis said there is a rumor that MLSD will be working with the city of Moses Lake to open the high school pool to the public, but that is not happening. However, she did have a meeting with the Manta Rays swim team and MLSD Athletic Director Loren Sandhop to begin working on an agreement to use the facility. The pool also just received a new sound system which cost $100,000 and no current cabinet member or the athletic director could recall any discussion about this expense according to Lewis.

Normally, MLSD sends handfuls of teachers to Solution Tree to work on professional development skills said Lewis. Last year, it cost $460 thousand, not including travel to further educate teachers. This year there will still be training but those attending will stay in the district and have only requested $399,000 for professional development.

The outcomes of the training were useful in meeting standards for English, Language Arts and math district-wide, Lewis said. The trainings have also started a focus on “belonging” and ensuring success for every student.

Midway Elementary School Principal Russell Kovalenko said the elementary school has used the training and seen a 19% improvement in English and Language Arts with 121% of their students reaching goal. Similar results were seen in math with 113% of students reaching goal and a 16% improvement over last year.

“This didn’t happen by chance, it was very organized and very well put together,” Kavalenko said. “I would say from top to bottom and bottom to top with participation. It wasn’t just Midway but we did see some pretty good growth across the district.”

MLSD Director of Career and Technical Education Roy Mayberry also reported on successes and provided updates and plans for the next four years. Career and technical education received three grants totaling almost $135,000 for the 2023 to 2024 school year. The program had met with a total of 943 students 470 of whom were seniors.

This upcoming year CTE plans to expand at Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center by offering aerospace, automotive, engineering and fire service training. It will also expand digital learning by offering a photography class. At Moses Lake High School there will be two new classes offered: success 101 and Teacher Academy 2.