7.27.26 Business Board Meeting

The Sultan School District business board meeting on July 27, 2026, reviewed district finances, transportation, and school capital planning. The district reported a positive accrual-based balance of about $381,000 but said it had borrowed $1 million from capital projects to manage cash flow, with a goal of repaying it by year-end. The transportation vehicle fund had about $86,000 after paying for a short bus; the draft budget includes another large bus purchase, supported in part by anticipated state depreciation revenue of nearly $300,000. Grant-funded weight-room equipment was reported to be in transit. The superintendent also reported that all three labor agreements had been settled; no vendor contract awards or competitive bid approvals were identified.

The main action concerned the proposed school bond and state matching funds. District staff explained that, under OSPI’s current interpretation of state rules, building a high school on a new site would require the existing high school to be surplused for non-K–12 use, forfeiting an estimated $15–18 million in state match. After discussing alternatives and concerns about demolishing or repurposing existing facilities, the board voted to direct the superintendent and chief financial officer to work with the bond attorney on a resolution based on the projects in Resolution 25-10, with a $160 million ask, for the November ballot process. The plan retains the high school and Gold Bar projects, including proposed facility and field improvements; the board’s action was to direct preparation of the resolution, with filing deadlines approaching. The board also approved the first reading of policy 3231 concerning student records.