MARYSVILLE — The Marysville School Board hopes to help plug a $2 million hole in the school district budget by instituting a virtual ban on travel for its top officials.
The board Monday night ordered an immediate halt to all out-of-state travel for its five members plus Superintendent Linda Whitehead and her eight executive directors. The board also limited in-state travel for the same people to legally mandated trips.
Marysville last year spent $174,000 on travel-related expenses, according to financial reports the district filed with the state.
"I’m hoping to get at least 80 percent of that down," said Michael Kundu, a new school board member who suggested the travel ban. "We have a lot of other things we need to put that money to."
Kundu added that the travel ban was specifically tailored to make it possible for teachers to continue to attend professional development seminars or other programs directly connected to educating students.
District spokeswoman Judy Parker, who is among those affected by the travel ban, said it was too early to know how much money may be saved. She doubted it will be much.
"I don’t think the superintendent, the board and the executive directors are the ones" responsible for most of the district’s travel expenses, Parker said.
The board’s action came after a majority of its members approved spending up to $4,500 to find an outside adviser to review the district’s finances, staffing and policy issues.
A consultant, John Fotheringham with Northwest Leadership Associates, will be paid $75 an hour to recruit somebody who would serve as a special assistant to the board.
If hired, the assistant will be paid up to $500 a day to help board members in setting limitations to complete bargaining with employee unions, review staffing and assist with legal, policy and organizational issues.
The district’s teachers are still without a contract and enrollment is down about 500 students from last year, creating a $2 million shortfall in state funds.
District officials believe the enrollment decline is linked to the bleak economy and parents deciding to send their children elsewhere during this falls’ record 49-day teacher walkout.
In other action, the board:
Reporter Scott North: 425-339-3431 or north@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
