APPROVED 12-01-2025

Board of Education Finance Committee Meeting (Monday, September 8, 2025)

Generated by Nikkol Sipes on Wednesday, September 10, 2025

1. Board Finance Committee

A. Call to Order

Mr. Kelly called the meeting to order at 2:01 p.m.

B. Roll Call

Members Present: Zen Kelly, Kelley Cizek, Sarah Douthit, Jason Tauriainen
Members Absent:

Other Members Present: Tim Daugharty, Dianne MacRae, Virginia Morgan, Penny Vadla, Patti Truesdell

C. Approval of Agenda

The September 8, 2025 finance committee meeting agenda was approved as presented.

D. Approval of Minutes 06-26-2025

The June 26, 2025 finance committee meeting notes were approved as presented.

2. Finance New Business

A. FY26 Budget Reduction Scenarios

Mr. Kelly noted that the committee will be taking up the FY26 Budget Scenarios for review once more. He reviewed the Governor's veto had just been overturned by the legislature before the August 4 meeting where the Board reinstated some extracurricular stipends at the regular business meeting with a budget revision. He noted that this meeting is to bring forward and discuss future budget revisions potentially at the business meeting this evening. He noted that the Borough Assembly unanimously passed a resolution to urge KPBSD continue to fund Seldovia and Ninilchik pools he also spoke to various efforts from the local communities to keep the pools funded this fiscal year. Mr. Kelly urged support to fund these pools this fiscal year however shift operations to other entities next fiscal year.
Ms. Douthit requested the Board return a resolution to the Assembly regarding keeping the pools open until next fiscal year and have the Assembly construct a plan to transition these operations from the school district.

Mr. Kelly called a brief recess at 2:09 p.m. due to technical difficulties.
Mr. Kelly called the meeting back to order at 2:23 p.m.
Mr. Tauriainen is open to discussing a resolution to the Assembly, however he wants to be cautious regarding having a contingency for negotiations and other future costs. He also requested information regarding pool revenue. Ms. Morgan was in agreeance with drafting a resolution for the Assembly and noted that the pools are community resources. Ms. Truesdell is also in support of a resolution in this regard. Mr. Kelly requested that Director Voivedich true up several costs within the budget reductions of the Seldovia and Ninilchick pools. Ms. Morgan noted that there could be cost savings measures as far as maintenance of the pools. Mr. Kelly spoke to the Board that he would like to bring a motion forward this evening to reinstate various aspects of the budget including stipends. Ms. Cizek was supportive of revising the budget and adding items back to the budget, however would also like to approach revisions with caution as far as additional costs in particular with negotiations currently ongoing. Ms. MacRae spoke to volunteers and stipends. Ms. Douthit would like to have a little more time to process any budget revisions, but is in favor of restoring the transportation and extra curricular stipends. Mr. Tauriainen agreed with Ms. Cizek, in that discussions should be deliberate and benefit the most students. Ms. Vadla had concerns regarding libraries and librarian aides, Quest, Elementary Counselors and Theater Technician funding. Mr. Kelly requested that Administration draft a list of needs for this school year, and invited Superintendent Holland to speak to these needs. Superintendent Holland requested special education intensive needs aides, as it is required by state statute to provide support. He requested funding for the Warehouse truck to address that need. He requested Middle College funding to be restored along with CTE funding and a two week intensive program for industry related programs. Ms. Cizek is in favor of restoring Administration's recommendations however she still cautions bringing all of these items back along with the reinstatement of the pools as well. Ms. Vadla supported the CTE and Middle School College. Mr. Tauriainen supported Administration's recommendations as well as the pool reinstatements at this time but would not feel comfortable adding anything else back in until soliciting advice from boots on the ground in the meetings. Ms. Truesdell mentioned curriculum. Mr. Kelly is targeting utilizing around 2 million dollars of reinstated items on the budget reduction list for the FY26, including communication specialist position. Superintendent Holland spoke to what this type of position could look like currently. Ms. Morgan is in support of a communication specialist. Mr. Tauriainen is in support of a communication specialist. Ms. Cizek is opposed of a communication specialist. Ms. MacRae is opposed of a communication specialist. Ms. Douthit is in support of a communication specialist. Ms. Truesdell is in support of a communication specialist. Mr. Daugharty requested clarification and requested numbers be presented prior to making any decisions. He is in support of other items over adding the communication specialist at this time. Mr. Kelly noted the elimination of the Elementary Education Director, and would like to entertain discussion around this position. Superintendent Holland echoed Mr. Kelly and if there was funding for the position he would most likely contract out bigger projects for this fiscal year and is hopeful to fill the position next year. Mr. Tauriainen is in support of Administration's list of reinstatements. He is in support of the communication specialist position. He is in support of contract assistance. He is in support of grow your own para program. Ms. Vadla is in support of the communication specialist especially during legislative session visits. Ms. Morgan is in support of Administration's priorities, the communication specialist, and the director of elementary education. Ms. Cizek is not opposed to leaving the elementary education director in the line up to bring back. She is supportive of contracting work out until there is more stable funding. Ms. MacRae would like to focus on the classroom and would like to utilize free resources and opposed to a communication specialist. Ms. Truesdell is in support of reinstating Administration's priorities. She is in support of a communication specialist.
Mr. Daugharty is in support of Administration's priorities as well. Mr. Kelly is going to work on drafting a budget revision motion for action at the business meeting this evening to reflect discussions.

3. Information Requests to Administration

A. Information Requests to Administration

There were no further requests from committee.

4. Adjourn

A. Adjourn

Mr. Kelly adjourned the meeting at 3:15 p.m.