Tuesday, September 9, 2025

The Reed Union School District board moved a potential facilities bond one step closer to the ballot, authorizing staff to test community support for a large bond authorization in an upcoming survey. The board also reviewed the district's final financial results for the prior year and confirmed compliance with state arts-funding and spending-limit requirements.

Bond Measure Community Survey

A financial consultant walked the board through how a general-obligation bond would work, explaining that property is taxed on assessed value — the value assigned at purchase, which can rise up to 2% per year — rather than market value, and that the structure of debt service determines whether tax rates stay flat or decline over time. The board debated how to frame the question in a community survey: whether to "test a ladder" of amounts or use limited survey questions to probe appetite at a high level. Members concluded it was better to test a high amount first to learn where the community stands, reasoning that getting residents comfortable with a lower figure and then needing to go higher would be worse. The board approved a motion to include a bond authorization in the community survey, testing a $115 million figure (with an associated tax-rate figure), and adopted a related resolution. Staff emphasized the survey is only a test of community appetite, not a decision to place a specific measure on the ballot.

Unaudited Actuals for 2024–25

Joining by Zoom, business official Dr. Kim presented the unaudited actuals for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. Total revenues and transfers came in at $30.42 million — within 0.3% of the budgeted estimate — while expenditures totaled about $30.09 million. Certificated salaries represented 41% of spending, classified salaries 15%, and combined benefits about 25%, putting total employee costs around 81–82% of operating expenditures, in line with neighboring districts. Staff said the district believes it met all state and federal compliance requirements for the year, and that the figures remain subject to an independent audit expected to be reported by the second interim report in December, or no later than January 2026. In response to a trustee question, staff identified a $200,000 contribution to the district's OPEB/SERP retiree-benefit trust, recorded as "other uses out."

Spending Limit and Proposition 28

The board reviewed the district's appropriations (Gann) limit calculation, with staff explaining that voter-approved parcel taxes are not subject to the limit and that the district is in compliance. Separately, the board took up the annual Proposition 28 arts and music report for 2024–25. Staff reported zero Proposition 28 dollars were spent on staff because the district already operates a robust arts and music program and the law bars using the funds to supplant existing services; generous Foundation support meant the district did not need to spend Proposition 28 money on personnel. Staff said the district plans to apply its annual allocation plus carryover in 2025–26 and would confirm its interpretation with auditors if needed ahead of the September 30 reporting deadline.

Reports and Programs

The Foundation for Reed Schools reported 32 sponsors and about $84,893 raised — ahead of the prior year's pace — along with new sponsor-recognition banners at the Reed car line. The PTA described start-of-year organizing, membership efforts, and a communications push including a subscribable district calendar built with the IT director. In a middle-school electives update, staff reported moving robotics back to a before- and after-school club at the teacher's request, expanding the leadership elective from 40 to 80 student spots and eliminating its application process, and continuing speech and debate and music offerings, including student jazz performances. Board members reported attending back-to-school nights, principal coffees, and community meetings across the district's schools.