MARYSVILLE — An unprecedented oversight committee set to review the Marysville School District’s finances now has official members.
State Superintendent Chris Reykdal gave school officials a list of members in a letter Tuesday, two weeks after declaring the district “financially insolvent.” The state has never before imposed a financial oversight committee over a school district.
Reykdal’s letter set an Aug. 16 deadline for the committee to make recommendations on what to do about the troubled district.
The committee members are:
• T.J. Kelly, the state superintendent’s chief financial officer;
• Ramon Alvarez, the state superintendent’s head of Human Resources;
• Kassidy Probert, assistant superintendent in the Northeast Washington Educational Service District; and
• Lisa Matthews, assistant superintendent in the Northwest Educational Service District, which includes Marysville.
The nine educational service districts in Washington serve as intermediaries between school districts and the government. Matthews will be a “nonvoting” committee member.
Recommendations the committee could make include an alternate financial plan, prior approval of district contracts and “delayed release” of some state funds “to meet the final fund balance requirement,” Reykdal wrote in an earlier letter.
The committee could also recommend the state dissolve the district, a drastic and never-before-seen step.
Since August, the district has been in so-called “binding conditions,” meaning it must work with the state to solve its budget crisis. Marysville is the largest school district in Washington to ever enter into binding conditions.
In April, the state agency warned the district it would convene the committee if leaders didn’t fix major issues with their financial plan.
Reykdal’s office later approved a revised plan, though still noted concern with district leadership’s actions.
In his letter Tuesday, Reykdal wrote the bulk of the committee’s review will focus on a budget the district “must make publicly available by July 10, 2024.”
Committee members could also meet with district leaders to further investigate district finances. They will meet at least four times in July, Reykdal wrote.
“The committee will provide MSD with informed feedback on their financial plans,” he continued, “and make recommendations to the district on how best to proceed in a way that is in compliance with binding conditions and leads to a path of financial stability.”
State law requires the committee hold a public hearing to hear locals’ thoughts on “any proposed financial plans.” People can also contact the committee at FOC@k12.wa.us.
“As a reminder, the committee does not have the authority to mandate or prohibit specific decisions made by the district,” Reykdal wrote, “including nullifying existing contract agreements with labor unions.”
The district has to provide the state with a budget for the coming school year by Aug. 31, a school district press release noted.
Sophia Gates: 425-339-3035; sophia.gates@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @SophiaSGates.
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