Update on finances, enrollment and renovations | School news

Lopez Island School District is starting 2015 with positive financial and enrollment trends, a change in leadership and the startup of our school renovation project.

Submitted by the Lopez Island School Board

Lopez Island School District is starting 2015 with positive financial and enrollment trends, a change in leadership and the startup of our school renovation project.

Financial and Enrollment Status

The district starts 2015 with good financial news. After a lengthy appeal process, the Internal Revenue Service recently withdrew all penalties associated with the reporting and withholding issues the district experienced in 2013. That abatement along with increased enrollment numbers (currently up 6 percent from last year) and conservative budgeting has us on plan to reach our year-end goal of a $200,000-fund balance, or approximately 5 percent of our operating budget. The new partnership with North Central Educational Service District in providing financial management support has been instrumental in helping LISD in this regard.

New District Leadership

After a process of considering different leadership models, and in consultation with the faculty and staff, the School Board has extended a contract to our current interim elementary principal, Brian Auckland, to become the district’s ongoing superintendent starting the Mar. 1. Brian will also continue to serve as elementary principal, splitting his time between the two positions.

Over the past six months, Brian has received strong reviews in the interim elementary principal role.   He brings considerable school leadership experience from the Mt. Vernon School District and is just completing a superintendent training program through Washington State University. The district plans to share more information about Brian in a future article. We are excited that he will be serving the district in this new role.

With Brian’s promotion, Bill Evans will be completing his tour of duty as our part-time superintendent.  The district has tremendous gratitude for the many years of leadership Bill has provided.  We will be celebrating Bill as he plans next steps and more information will be forthcoming in the near future so that all of us will have a chance to thank Bill for his devotion to our school and community.

Renovation Project Startup

The district had a successful bond sale in mid-December at a significantly lower overall interest rate than had been originally estimated. This allowed the bond payback period to be reduced from 20 to 15 years.  In other words, with no increase in the annual property tax assessment originally calculated, the bonds will be paid off five years sooner than planned, saving taxpayers five years of bond payments.

In other renovation project news, the Project Design Advisory Team has been set and begins its work this month.

Twelve school staff and student members will be joined by the six community members who volunteered to serve on the team: Russel Barsh, Georgeana Cook, Paul Henriksen, Tina Katzenberger, Carol Steckler and Kirm Taylor.

The renovation project design, engineering, permitting and bidding activities will extend through 2015. Major renovation construction will begin June of 2016 with planned completion August 2017.