School Board Corner
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Second Interim Budget Report
The WCCUSD school board voted on March 26 to accept the “second interim budget report,” which certifies the district’s projections of its current financial health, and approved a resolution to use reserve funds, without asking questions, having a board discussion, and before listening to public comment on the items.
What Happened?
At the March 26 board meeting, Interim Associate Superintendent for Business Services, David Hart, and Executive Director of Business Services, Jeff Carter, delivered the district’s second interim financial report (full report, slides).
Interim budget reports give a snapshot of the district’s financial health during the school year and their projections for the next two years. The second interim report compares the current financial conditions in the district to what was originally projected in the district’s budget when it was adopted in June, and to the updates made in the first interim report in December.
Compared to the first interim in December, the district now reports an increase in expected interest revenue, a small decline in LCFF revenue, and an increase in some expenditures, as well as some funding shifting from one budget category to another.
WCCUSD’s self-rating was a “positive certification,” meaning that, based on current projections, the district believes it will be able to meet its financial obligations for this year and the next two years. This relies, in part, on the recent budget cuts included in the “fiscal solvency plan.” Over the next three years, the district projects a significant spend-down of its special reserve fund (“fund 17”).
The district’s financial outlook is heavily constrained by declining enrollment and decreased attendance rates, which significantly reduces the amount of funding WCCUSD receives from the state. Additionally, the district’s reliance on one-time revenues (such as COVID relief funds) to cover ongoing expenses presents challenges now that these one-time funds have expired. There are also uncertainties related to potential impacts of the Trump administration on school funding sources– both in terms of the cut-backs at the Department of Education as well as potential impacts to enrollment and attendance related to federal immigration actions.
The lengthy presentation of the interim budget report was abruptly cut short near its conclusion, with only 8 minutes left before the board meeting’s extended ending time at 10:30 pm. The board quickly voted to “accept” the second interim report (with all trustees present and voting yes to accept) and to approve the related resolution to transfer funds from “fund 17” to pay for current-year liabilities. They indicated that questions and discussions would occur at the board retreat the following weekend and then opened the floor for two public comments on the report. Although it was listed as a discussion item on the agenda for the 3/29 board retreat, they did not get to that item at that meeting, and instead tabled it for the next board meeting on 4/16. However, it did not appear on the agenda for the 4/16 meeting.
Why is This Important?
The sequence of events– voting before questions, discussion, or listening to public comment– was highly irregular and troubling. As Trustee Cinthia Hernandez asked, “so, we’re going to approve and then ask questions after?” Monitoring the district’s financial health and certifying the district’s projections are crucial functions of the school board. Questions, and discussion must come before a vote, otherwise the vote simply rubber stamps the district staff’s report, without allowing the board to fulfill its oversight responsibility.
Additionally, allowing for public comments about board agenda items before they are voted on is not optional; it is required in California law, under the Brown Act. The community has the right to make public comments, and the board must consider these comments before making a vote. It is vital that this does not happen again.
Changes should be made to how board agenda time is being managed. This is not an isolated event; meetings have been routinely running out of time for important agenda items. For example, most recently, the scheduled presentation on attendance, originally scheduled for March 12 was put off due to lack of time for two meetings in a row. A presentation on i-Ready data was similarly deferred on March 26, and we saw similar patterns in the Fall as well. Reviewing agendas to ensure that the most essential elements are given sufficient time, and other elements minimized, is important.
Additional time could be found by ensuring meetings start on time, tightening up the introductory parts of the meetings, and possibly moving school performances to other events outside of board meeting time. There should also be clear expectations for the lengths of staff presentations, with guidelines on what is most important to cover. The interim budget presentation, which was cut off after over 30 minutes, was at times unfocused and lost in details, without clearly emphasizing key points. A more focused presentation would free up time and make it more helpful for both the board and public.
The board needs to commit to carefully reviewing plans and proposals ahead of time so that they are prepared to ask essential questions and engage in meaningful discussions during the meeting. This would allow for shorter presentations, creating more time to ask questions, listen to public comments, and have in-depth discussions about the issues being voted on.
Finally, when meetings are extended, the board should approve a longer extension that provides enough time to complete all essential work without feeling rushed. However, taking proactive steps to avoid needing such extensions is equally important.
What Can You Do?
Your involvement is essential to ensuring that the WCCUSD school board engages in open, transparent decision-making and oversight. Here’s how you can take action:
- Speak up at board meetings: Participate in public comment to share your concerns and priorities. Public comment does not just happen at the beginning of the meeting for “general” issues, but is also supposed to happen before the board discusses and votes on action items. Sign up for public comment about important items and call the district out if they do not call for public comment before voting.
- Stay Informed: Sign up for district updates through ParentSquare. Review district agendas (typically posted on this website at the end of day on Friday before a Wednesday meeting). Additionally, our School Finance Library offers valuable resources like the new guides to Annual School District Budget Cycle and Interim Budget Reports. These break down complex numbers and explain the budget process, empowering you to advocate effectively.
- Advocate for Transparency: Demand clear explanations from board members about their commitment to ensure that questions, comments, and discussion happen before board votes, not after, as well what priorities for student learning are guiding decision-making. Your questions and feedback help ensure accountability.
Additional 3/26/25 Meeting Highlights:
- The board approved the job description for the Superintendent position. The deadline for applications for the position was extended to April 4, 2025 (revised timeline).
- The board approved a resolution in support of SB 502, a bill authored by State Senator Arreguín, to provide access to funds that districts could use to develop plans for workforce housing for educators. (Read more about this bill and other education bills in our “What We’re Watching in California Education” article).