{"id":2244955,"date":"2024-05-15T09:41:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-15T13:41:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/levy-failures-accounting-errors-lead-to-layoffs-in-moses-lake-schools\/"},"modified":"2024-05-15T09:45:27","modified_gmt":"2024-05-15T13:45:27","slug":"levy-failures-accounting-errors-lead-to-layoffs-in-moses-lake-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/levy-failures-accounting-errors-lead-to-layoffs-in-moses-lake-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"Mistakes in Finances Cause Layoffs at Moses Lake Schools"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flevy-failures-accounting-errors-lead-to-layoffs-in-moses-lake-schools%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2244955&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Moses Lake School District faced layoffs following\u200c a failed levy and accounting errors. The Board approved a reduction plan after multiple levy\u200d failures, leading to a $20 million budget cut. An accounting review highlighted revenue inaccuracies, resulting in a significant fund balance drop. The \u200bdistrict&#8217;s financial turmoil was compounded by overspending, grant errors, \u2062and levy\u200d setbacks. Moses Lake School District \u200dexperienced layoffs\u2063 due to a failed levy and accounting discrepancies. The Board passed a cutback plan after several unsuccessful levy attempts, resulting in a $20 million budget reduction. The \u200cfinancial crisis was worsened by revenue inaccuracies, leading\u2064 to a substantial decline in the fund balance, exacerbated by overspending, grant discrepancies, and levy failures.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>(The Center Square)\u00a0\u00a0\u2013\u00a0 Teachers and other Moses Lake School District staff started receiving nonrenewal notices this week after the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fairfax-teachers-win-32-7-million-bonus-for-extraordinary-work-during-pandemic\/\" title=\"Fairfax Teachers Win .7 Million Bonus for \u2018Extraordinary\u2019 Work During Pandemic\">school board approved<\/a> a plan to reduce personnel by around 100 people.<\/p>\n<p>The district\u2019s Board of Directors approved the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/go.boarddocs.com\/wa\/moseslake\/Board.nsf\/files\/D56SJK72EBA8\/%24file\/Resolution%202024-07%20-%20Google%20Docs.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">measure<\/a><\/strong> during a special School Board meeting on Saturday. The meeting followed the repeated failure of MLSD\u2019s Maintenance and Operations Levy in <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/results.vote.wa.gov\/results\/20240213\/grant\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">February<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/results.vote.wa.gov\/results\/20240423\/grant\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">April<\/a><\/strong> and ongoing conversations about the budget since then.<\/p>\n<p>As current levy funding dries up at the end of 2024, the Board of Directors faced the reality of balancing a $20 million budget reduction. However, with employees constituting the vast majority of the budget, mass layoffs were the only substantive step forward. <\/p>\n<p>During <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/play.champds.com\/moseslakeschoolswa\/event\/141\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Saturday\u2019s meeting<\/a><\/strong>, Linda McKay, deputy superintendent of North Central Education Services District, said the levy\u2019s failure is a significant factor, but a review of MLSD\u2019s accounting also showed several discrepancies with grants and enrollment statistics, overestimating accruals. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat revenue accrual error \u2026 had a significant impact on [the district\u2019s] fund balance and what was being reported to the board,\u201d said Trisha Schock, NCESD\u2019s executive director of administrative services, during the meeting. \u201c[The district\u2019s] fund balance went from $13.5 million to $2 million because you were over-reporting revenue.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Schock said the almost $11 million accounting error resulted from double booking grant revenue without later correcting it to reflect an accurate balance. That, coupled with the levy\u2019s failure, overspending and other factors, culminated in the drastic financial situation.<\/p>\n<p>According to a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/go.boarddocs.com\/wa\/moseslake\/Board.nsf\/files\/D55SJJ729DB1\/%24file\/Recommended%20Reduced%20Educational%20Program%20Exhibit%20A.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">summary of recommended reductions<\/a><\/strong>, in addition to MLSD laying off or letting go of around 100 staff members, extra-curricular and community programs, supplies, facility usage and several other cuts will also occur in varying degrees.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you do not approve the resolution for the [reduction in force,]\u201d Schock said to the school board, \u201cessentially, the admin team cannot make the reduction necessary to ensure the financial stability of MLSD moving forward because you need to cut $20 million out of your budget and 80% of your costs are staff.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She said MLSD could go bankrupt if it does not notify the affected administrative personnel and teachers under <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-pass-bill-critics-say-defunds-police-and-reject-proposal-to-condemn-calls-to-abolish-police\/\" title=\"Democrats Pass Bill Critics Say Defunds Police And Reject Proposal To Condemn Calls To \u2018Abolish\u2019 Police\">collective bargaining agreements<\/a> by the May 15 deadline. <\/p>\n<p>MLSD released a press release on Tuesday, breaking down the budget shortfalls and noting that staff reductions alone will save the district $13 million.<\/p>\n<p>Some staff members took to social media Monday afternoon after receiving their nonrenewal notices. Kayla Hoffer, a teacher at Lakeview Terrace Elementary, posted after receiving her notice and expressed disappointment with how the situation is playing out. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, some of this was not in the community\u2019s hands, but had the levy passed, we would be in a much better situation as a district and a community,\u201d Hoffer said on Facebook. \u201cWhatever beef you have with the district, you just took out on our kids.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Another MLSD staff member told The Center Square that a group of affected personnel is holding off commenting to avoid the spotlight while still under contact. They said commenting on the situation could impact their chances at another job with a different school district.<\/p>\n<p>The decision to hold off was that of the group, not the MLSD, as the staff member cited concerns for administrators around the district as well.<\/p>\n<p>Moving forward, McKay said NCESD will work alongside MLSD to reconcile expenditures and revenues for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/founder-of-blm-in-st-paul-who-quit-group-theyre-racist-against-black-children-because-they-oppose-school-choice\/\" title=\"Founder Of BLM In St. Paul Who Quit Group: They\u2019re \u2018Racist\u2019 Against Black Children Because They Oppose School Choice\">past school year<\/a>, complete the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/most-of-bidens-1-9-trillion-coronavirus-relief-bill-has-nothing-to-do-with-public-health\/\" title=\"Most Of Biden\u2019s .9 Trillion Coronavirus Relief Bill Has Nothing To Do With Public Health\">current fiscal year<\/a> and provide revenue projections for 2024-2025.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Moses Lake School District staff received nonrenewal notices as the school board greenlit a plan to cut around 100 positions. The decision came after persistent Levy failures and accounting errors. The Board of Directors finalized the measure in a weekend session due to the recurring financial challenges in MLSD<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2244956,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/empty-classroom-photo-1024x683.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2244955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/empty-classroom-photo-1024x683.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2244955","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2244955"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2244955\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2244956"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2244955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2244955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2244955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}