Board of Education Finance Committee Meeting
March 23, 2026
Finance Committee Meeting Minutes-DRAFT

Meeting Location:
144 N. Binkley Street
Soldotna Alaska, 99669

Zoom ID: 708 024 188 https://zoom.us/j/708024188

1. Board Finance Committee

A. Call to Order

Chair Douthit called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.

B. Roll Call

Committee Members Present:
Sarah Douthit, Board Member, Chair
Kelley Cizek, Board Member (attended virtually)
Mica Vanbuskirk, Board Member
Czarina Voivedich, Finance Director
A quorum was established.
Other Board Members Present were:
President Tauriainen
Vice President Daugharty(attended virtually)
Board Member Vadla(attended virtually)
Board Member Waddell (attended virtually)
Others present were:
Superintendent Holland
Human Resources Director Crabtree
Information Services Director Soderquist
Planning & Operations Director Lyon
Student Support Services Director Kelly
Elementary & Secondary Education Director Graham

C. Approval of Agenda

The March 23, 2026 finance committee meeting agenda was approved as presented by the committee.

D. Approval of Minutes 03-02-2026

The March 2, 2026 finance committee meeting notes were approved as presented by the committee.

2. Finance Ongoing Business

A. FY27 Preliminary Budget

Chair Douthit opened discussion on the FY27 Preliminary Budget, reviewing prior committee discussions from the March 2, 2026 meeting as well as feedback from the full Board work session. Ms. VanBuskirk addressed Scenario Two and expressed continued opposition to including contingency or excess funding. She proposed removing the reductions to Middle School Reading, librarians, certified library aides, and Middle College by 50 percent, maintaining Distance Education, and adding back Tech Plan funding, while utilizing the excess funds currently available in Scenario Two. Chair Douthit suggested reviewing necessary expenditures before considering the additions and reductions proposed by Ms. VanBuskirk.

Director Voivedich addressed the committee regarding Charter School expenditure adjustments and the impact of fuel price increases. She also discussed decreased interest revenue based on January reports and noted that in-kind services could be lower depending on school closures. Ms. Cizek requested clarification on Charter School funding, particularly for the newly established Nikolaevsk Charter School, and Director Voivedich explained that funding is typically adjusted as needed. Chair Douthit stated that the Charter School adjustments should be included in both Scenario One and Scenario Two. Superintendent Holland discussed the increase in fuel prices and transportation expenditures, and Chair Douthit requested that Director Voivedich add the Nikolaevsk Charter School expenditure adjustment to the budget scenarios. Superintendent Holland further requested clarification regarding the interest revenue, and Chair Douthit asked whether unassigned funds would cover the fuel expenditure increases, which Director Voivedich addressed.

Ms. VanBuskirk sought clarification regarding the busing contract, and Superintendent Holland explained the timing of the contract and when it will go out to bid for the 2027 fiscal year. Ms. VanBuskirk inquired whether the District could ask if the Borough might cover any shortfalls. She also commented on interest revenue. The committee agreed to add the Tech Plan reduction to Scenario Two. Chair Douthit reviewed the current balance in the spreadsheet and led discussion on librarians and library aides. Ms. VanBuskirk requested clarification on the costs of the additions made during the meeting. She suggested reducing library aides where there is a certified librarian. Ms. Cizek noted that she had been under the impression that libraries could remain open without librarians or aides. Superintendent Holland clarified that other staff would not assume these duties and that parent and volunteer support would be relied upon. In light of this, Ms. Cizek recommended reinstating the aides reduction only where there is a librarian and emphasized the importance of librarian presence in elementary schools. Chair Douthit suggested that a partial reduction in library aides where a librarian is present could be a reasonable compromise and directed that the library aides reduction be adjusted for Scenario Two.

Ms. Cizek suggested calculating interest revenue using a three-year average of percentages rather than a fixed figure. Ms. VanBuskirk proposed updating pool closure reduction costs. Superintendent Holland noted that in-kind funding adjustments may still be inaccurate until operations are fully transferred. He also provided an update on regarding discussions on transferring the pool maintenance and operations. Ms. VanBuskirk recommended allocating theater ticket revenue to support theater techs funding. Ms. Cizek expressed support for closing pools and not reinstating the funding once the Board has decided not to fund them. Chair Douthit reviewed the committee’s progress on Scenario Two and adjustments made. Ms. VanBuskirk requested clarification regarding the Nikolaevsk Charter School adjustments, and Superintendent Holland sought confirmation from Director Voivedich regarding enrollment and revenue numbers for the Charter School. Director Voivedich explained that some students enrolling in the new charter school may already be enrolled in other district schools, requiring possible revenue adjustments.

Chair Douthit asked the committee how much excess funding they wished to leave. Ms. VanBuskirk advocated for balancing the budget close to zero to preserve staff, including librarians, aides, and distance education staff. President Tauriainen opposed reducing to zero, favoring a small buffer, but agreed with some of Ms. VanBuskirk’s points regarding middle school reading certified staff. He noted that this is a preliminary budget subject to revision based on funding. He also outlined upcoming Board action items. Chair Douthit proposed moving Scenario One forward to the full Board at the April 6 work session and sought committee recommendations. Ms. Cizek supported moving the document forward, while Ms. VanBuskirk preferred Scenario Two, hoping the Borough would provide funding.

Chair Douthit requested clarification from Director Crabtree regarding contracts. Director Crabtree noted that 67 FTE had not received contracts and emphasized that earlier issuance supports staffing stability, but cautioned against offering contracts based on unconfirmed funding. Ms. Cizek again expressed support for Scenario One, highlighting the uncertainty of Borough funding and noting that the Board must vote on each closure or consolidation proposal. Chair Douthit agreed with Ms. Cizek. Ms. VanBuskirk requested a review of the scenarios, which Chair Douthit then summarized. Ms. VanBuskirk inquired about the President’s preferred budget excess amount, and President Tauriainen indicated support for the currently listed excess in the scenarios. Chair Douthit noted that if any consolidation action items fail, the excess may be required to help balance the budget. Ms. Cizek supported retaining the Distance Education reduction while awaiting Board votes on consolidation items. Ms. VanBuskirk questioned whether the Board remained uncertain about school consolidations, and Chair Douthit clarified that the committee’s task was to recommend a scenario to the full Board, not to speak on behalf of the Board, and that uncertainty persists until Board votes occur. President Tauriainen and Superintendent Holland echoed these points, noting the difficulty and uncertainty of school consolidations and cautioning reliance on assumed Borough funding.

Director Voivedich requested clarification on custodian reduction and school consolidation items for the scenarios. Chair Douthit sought general consensus to move the document forward for the April 6 work session, and the committee agreed. Ms. VanBuskirk asked when the Board would vote on the consolidations and budget action items. President Tauriainen outlined the timeline, indicating that the Board will vote at the next meeting. Ms. Cizek inquired whether communities had been notified and whether stakeholders had opportunities to provide input. Superintendent Holland explained the arrangements for community meetings. Ms. VanBuskirk recommended arranging a meeting with the Mayor. President Tauriainen noted that he and Superintendent Holland meet with the Mayor regularly and that they will also meet with the Assembly, with an upcoming joint work session scheduled on April 7.

3. Information Requests to Administration

A. Information Requests to Administration

Ms. Vanbuskirk requested the 710 accounts for theaters and unfilled positions still listed.

4. Adjourn

A. Adjourn

Chair Douthit adjourned the meeting at 2:19 p.m.