TRANSPARENCY IN ACTION
School Board Decisions
Track the proposals, votes, and follow-through shaping SoWashCo Schools.
How Decisions Will Be Tracked
Each major decision record will answer at least these questions so readers can quickly understand both the action and its context.
What is expected? / What was proposed?
The administration’s recommendation, alternatives, stated objectives, and projected cost or savings.
What is known so far? / What did the Board decide?
The motion, vote, amendments, and any direction provided to district staff.
Why does it matter?
The likely effect on students, families, staff, district finances, programs, or facilities.
What happens next?
Implementation dates, follow-up reports, unresolved questions, and results that can be measured.
How to Read a Board Action
- Information item: The Board receives information, but no action is scheduled.
- Discussion item: Board members discuss an issue and may provide direction before a future proposal.
- Consent agenda: Multiple generally routine items are approved together unless an item is removed for separate consideration.
- Action item: The Board is scheduled to vote on a motion or recommendation.
- Approved: The Board has taken formal action. Implementation and results may still require follow-up.
Check the official agenda and supporting documents for the purpose of a specific item. A presentation, discussion, or staff recommendation should not be described as a Board decision before a vote occurs.
Decision Status
WATCHING
An important issue without a formal proposal.
UNDER REVIEW
A proposal is being developed or discussed.
APPROVED
The Board has taken formal action.
IMPLEMENTING
Work continues after the vote.
Upcoming Board Decisions
These are significant actions identified in published district timelines and budget materials. Dates and descriptions will be updated as agendas and recommendations become available. An expected action is not an approved decision.
UNDER REVIEW · BOARD APPROVAL PLANNED NOVEMBER 2026
One-Year Budget Adjustments
What is expected? The administration is expected to present budget-adjustment recommendations for implementation in the 2027–28 school year. The district’s April timeline identifies November 2026 for a first reading and Board approval.
What is known so far? The April presentation described a need for $13 million in adjustments. A later preliminary budget projected a smaller one-year deficit, but the district has not yet published the final recommendation list, estimated savings by item, or a reconciled adjustment target. The published timeline does not clearly indicate whether the first reading and final approval will occur at one meeting or separate meetings.
Why does it matter? The recommendations may affect staffing, class sizes, programs, services, transportation, activities, and other parts of the student experience beginning in fall 2027.
What happens next? The district’s timeline calls for community information between August and November. The specific recommendations, supporting financial analysis, meeting date, and proposed motion should become available before Board action.
Review the district’s April planning timeline →
Follow the adjustment process →
UNDER REVIEW · DECEMBER 2026
Property Tax Levy Approval
What is expected? The School Board is expected to approve the district’s property-tax levies for taxes payable in 2027.
What is known so far? The June 2026 finance update identifies December 2026 for Board approval. The final levy amount, year-over-year change, tax impact, public-hearing date, and proposed motion have not yet been posted.
Why does it matter? Property-tax levies provide a major portion of district revenue. The final certification affects district funding and the school-district share of local property-tax bills.
What happens next? Levy work begins in the fall. The district typically presents preliminary information and holds a public hearing before the Board certifies the final amount.
Review the June finance update →
Visit the district finance page →
WATCHING · EXPECTED MARCH 2027
2026–27 Revised Budget
What is expected? The Board is expected to update the budget for the fiscal year that began July 1, 2026. The revised budget should replace estimates in the preliminary budget with more current information.
What is known so far? The preliminary 2026–27 budget was approved on June 25, 2026. A revised budget is expected in March 2027, but the exact meeting date, updated revenue and expenditure totals, projected deficit, and proposed motion have not yet been published.
Why does it matter? The revised budget will provide the clearest comparison between the assumptions approved before the year began and the district’s updated financial outlook. Changes may affect the projected fund balance and the context for the separate budget-adjustment process.
What happens next? The district will update enrollment, staffing, revenue, expenditure, and other assumptions. The revised budget and supporting presentation should be released before the Board meeting where action is requested.
Review the approved preliminary budget →
Visit the district finance page →
WATCHING · JUNE 2027
2027–28 Preliminary Budget
What is expected? The Board is expected to approve preliminary budgets for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2027.
What is known so far? June approval is part of the district’s annual budget cycle. A specific meeting date, proposed revenue and expenditure totals, enrollment assumptions, and projected fund balance have not yet been published.
Why does it matter? This budget will incorporate the approved one-year adjustments and updated assumptions about enrollment, state funding, staffing, compensation, inflation, and other costs.
What happens next? The district will develop the budget during winter and spring 2027. A preliminary proposal and presentation should be released before the approval meeting.
Review the current budget’s description of the annual process →
UNDER REVIEW · BOARD ACTION EXPECTED NOVEMBER 2027
Five-Year District Plan
What is expected? The district’s published timeline calls for School Board action on a plan for the 2028–2033 cycle in November 2027.
What is known so far? The work will address infrastructure and facilities, business and operations, and student success. The district has identified boundaries, enrollment, building repurposing, transportation, staffing, secondary pathways, class sizes, and student supports as areas of focus. No final recommendations or proposed motion exist yet.
Why does it matter? The plan may guide future school use, attendance boundaries, staffing, programs, transportation, capital needs, and additional funding requests across several years.
What happens next? Listening sessions are planned for fall 2026, advisory work for January through August 2027, and an information tour for August through November 2027. Final recommendations are expected before Board action.
Review the district’s five-year planning page →
Follow the five-year plan →
Recent Board Decisions
These records cover formal actions connected to district finances and long-term planning. Routine consent items and operational approvals are not included unless they have broader significance for students, families, facilities, or district finances.
APPROVED · JUNE 25, 2026
District Budget Adjustment Guiding Change Document
What was proposed? The administration presented a Guiding Change document establishing the purpose, desired results, acceptable methods, and limits for the district’s near-term budget adjustment process.
What changed before approval? The Board reviewed an earlier version of the Guiding Change document at its June 11 workshop. At the June 25 business meeting, the superintendent presented recommended edits, and the Board approved the revised document. The approved version retained the draft’s overall framework but removed the guardrail declaring it unacceptable to propose a plan that would place the district in Statutory Operating Debt, along with smaller wording and formatting edits.
What did the Board decide? The Board approved the document. Melinda Dols made the motion and Elizabeth Bockman Eckberg seconded it. All six members present voted in favor; none opposed. Katie Schwartz was absent.
Why does it matter? The document defines the boundaries staff will use while developing budget recommendations. It did not approve any specific program reduction, staffing change, or school closure.
What happens next? Staff and program groups will develop recommendations within this framework. Specific adjustments will require later Board action before implementation.
Review the June 11 workshop draft →
Read the approved Guiding Change document →
View the official meeting record →
APPROVED · JUNE 25, 2026
2026–27 Preliminary Budget
What was proposed? The administration presented the district’s estimated revenue and expenditure plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026. The budget reflects projected enrollment, state funding, staffing costs, program spending, and other assumptions available when it was prepared.
What did the Board decide? The Board approved the budget. Ryan Clarke made the motion and Louise Hinz seconded it. All six members present voted in favor; none opposed. Katie Schwartz was absent.
Why does it matter? The budget authorizes the district’s financial plan for the year, but it remains an estimate. Enrollment, staffing, state aid, and actual spending can cause results to differ from the approved budget.
What happens next? The district will monitor enrollment and spending, complete the 2025–26 audit, certify property-tax levies in December 2026, and begin developing the 2027–28 budget.
Read the approved budget →
View the official meeting record →
APPROVED · JUNE 25, 2026
Northeast Metro 916 FY28 Long-Term Facility Maintenance Budget
What was proposed? Northeast Metro Intermediate School District 916 submitted its fiscal year 2028 long-term facility maintenance budget and the allocation of those costs among its member school districts.
What did the Board decide? The Board approved the cooperative budget by roll-call vote. Simi Patnaik made the motion and Louise Hinz seconded it. All six members present voted in favor; none opposed. Katie Schwartz was absent.
Why does it matter? SoWashCo is a member of District 916 and shares responsibility for approved maintenance costs. The allocation affects SoWashCo’s long-term facilities funding even though the projects occur within the cooperative district.
What happens next? District 916 and its member districts will incorporate the approved allocations into their facility-maintenance planning and funding.
Review the cooperative allocation worksheet →
View the official meeting record →
APPROVED · JUNE 25, 2026
FY28 Long-Term Facility Maintenance Ten-Year Plan
What was proposed? The administration presented updated revenue projections, expenditure plans, and identified facility-maintenance projects for the district’s ten-year planning period.
What did the Board decide? The Board approved the plan by roll-call vote. Simi Patnaik made the motion and Ryan Clarke seconded it. All six members present voted in favor; none opposed. Katie Schwartz was absent.
Why does it matter? The plan identifies how the district expects to fund major maintenance needs over time. Approval supports access to Minnesota’s long-term facility maintenance revenue, but individual project schedules and costs may continue to change.
What happens next? The district will update the ten-year plan annually and bring specific bids, contracts, or material project changes to the Board when separate approval is required.
Review the revenue projection →
Review the expenditure application →
View the official meeting record →
A Vote Is Not the End of the Story
After a major decision, we will continue watching for implementation dates, revised cost estimates, reported savings, enrollment effects, and other measurable results. When actual outcomes differ materially from what was presented before the vote, the original analysis will be updated.
Every analysis will link to official sources whenever available, including agendas, presentations, policies, minutes, recorded votes, and meeting video.
Participate Before the Decision Is Final
Use the Get Involved page to find upcoming meetings, review public-comment information, and learn how to contact the district.
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