West Bonner School District leaders are predicting a largely flat budget for the upcoming school year as the district works to complete financial audits dating back to 2024. The district serves just under 1,000 students in Priest River and the surrounding areas.
Background
The backed-up audits stem from controversy in the district dating back to 2023, when the school board hired former state legislator Branden Durst as superintendent. Durst left the district in September of 2023 after the Idaho State Board of Education’s decision to reject Durst’s request for an emergency superintendent certification, a condition of his contract with West Bonner.
During his brief tenure, Durst recommended and the school board approved a forensic audit following concerns of financial improprieties after a period of leadership turnover before his hiring. The audit approval was at a tense school board meeting during a recall against three trustees over the hiring of Durst.
Current Status
The Idaho Department of Education began withholding payments to West Bonner in 2023. In total, $1.85 million has been withheld from West Bonner. The district did not apply for a hardship exemption this year because they didn’t know it was an option, said Superintendent Kim Spacek.
Unspent funds from the district’s previous levy carried the district through this school year without the payment, Spacek said. The 2024 audit should be done at the end of June, then Hayden Ross, the district’s accounting firm, will start on the 2025 fiscal year audit.
Business Manager, Kendra Salsky, predicted a slight drop in enrollment from 1,044 students this year to 993 next year at the district’s budget hearing last week. The district’s average daily attendance in 87%. Salsky noted that increasing attendance just 3% would bring in about $230,000 in additional state revenue.
Ultimately, the district’s budget is largely the same as last year, she said. The district will lose one position through attrition next year, she said. Otherwise, increases to the budget are largely due to rising insurance costs, an issue districts statewide face.
Future Outlook
Salesky predicts a continued drop in enrollment for both 2027 and 2028, which would require cutting about five teaching positions and no raises for staff who stay. The district could make up the difference by increasing its levy ask, she noted.
The district also opened a virtual school last year and plans to look at other programs to retain students, she and trustees said. Trustees are set to approve the proposed budget at their board meeting Wednesday night.
Original reporting: Idaho Education News — read the source article.
