WATSONVILLE — Facing a packed agenda, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday will hear a budget status report, consider approving a comprehensive safety plan for all its schools and consider approving the contract for a new chief business officer.
The district’s business office is recommending a “positive” certification for its second interim budget report, meaning that, the district can pay its bills for the next three years under its current financial state.
The “variance” report is also a chance for the district to show changes in revenues and expenditure estimates since the first interim report in December.
According to the report, the district will end this school year with a $46.1 million ending fund balance, a number that climbs to $47.8 next year. The end of the 2019-20 school year will see the district with a $44.4 million ending fund balance.
These numbers are likely to change when the district concludes ongoing contract negotiations with Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers.
The district has offered all full-time teachers a $3,200 bonus and a 2 percent raise this year, both of which the union has rejected in lieu of a retroactive raise for the 2016-17 school year.
The same report shows the district spending more than its revenues to the tune of 11.4 million this year, and 3.36 million in 2019-20.
The trustees will also hear a report about the district’s efforts to comply with Senate Bill 187, a 1997 law that requires school districts to implement comprehensive school safety plans.
The presentation will include updates to the detailed district-wide plan implemented in December.
According to a report on Wednesday’s agenda packet, PVUSD plans to meet with Watsonville Police Department on ways to implement lockdown drills. That topic is prominent in the news, particularly in the wake of a school shooting in Parkland, Fla. that left 17 dead and 17 wounded.
In other action, the trustees will consider approving the contract of Joe Dominguez, the district’s newly hired chief business officer.
Dominguez takes the seat vacated by Melody Canady, who left late last year.
He will be paid $168,588, plus a $4,297 stipend for his master’s degree. The contract includes a longevity increase of 2.5 percent after five years.
Dominguez will also receive a $500 driving stipend per month.
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The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees will meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Watsonville City Council Chambers at 275 Main St. in Watsonville. For information, visit www.pvusd.net.
