The Bellevue School Board on Aug. 6 got its first look at how the district plans to spend an additional $18.1 million it will receive from the state. The money is part of the recent state budget that funneled more money into education. The state money will boost the district’s 2013-14 expenditures to $216.3 million.

The school board is expected to adopt the budget Aug. 27, following a public hearing.

Highlights of the budget include:

• More than $1 million to support new instructional initiatives;
• $4.2 million more for employee salaries, including both increases for experience and from contract negotiations; and
• An additional $2.6 million for special education, including eight new certificated positions and $600,000 to respond to the Special Education study.

The district also proposes putting $18 million – or 8.3 percent of General Fund expenditures – into reserves.The proposed budget also allocates an additional $332,000 for high needs schools, for a total of $3.4 million in 2013/2014, as well as 37 additional teachers and five administrators. An additional school resource officer will be restored for middle schools.

Regarding money being spent directly on students, the district proposes:

• 60.4 percent spent on teaching students;
• 10.8 percent spent on supporting students (counselors, librarians, health services);
• 5 percent spent on maintaining buildings and fields;
• 4.3 percent spent on school leadership and offices;
• 2.7 percent spent on transportation;
• 2.5 percent spent on feeding students;
• 2.6 percent spent heating and cooling buildings;
• 2.6 percent spent on technology; and
• 1.9 percent spent on community services.

Melissa deVita, deputy superintendent of Finance Services and Operations, said the district will spend more money in a number of areas, including the Learning Assistance Program (LAP), enrollment, Special Education and new programs including the Mandarin Dual Immersion School and expansion of the gifted and talented programs.

The district also allotted additional funds for the salaries of certified and classified employees; the partial restoration of athletic transportation/classified supervisory positions; mandated expense increases (district property and liability insurance, election costs and pension increases).

The final draft of the 2013/2014 budget resolutions is available online. Comments may be made via email, telephone and at the public hearing. To review the budget go HERE.

Questions or comments should be directed to BudgetOffice@bsd405.org, or Deputy Superintendent Melissa deVita at 425-456-4025, devitam@bsd405.org.