This special meeting is focused on several governance matters that have significant long-term implications despite a relatively short agenda. The most consequential item is the appointment of the required pro and con committee members for Resolution No. 1718, the proposed 2026 Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy that is expected to appear before district voters later this year. That appointment is an important procedural step in advancing the levy election.
The packet also includes the district's May 2026 financial statement, which provides important context for why the replacement levy is being pursued. District projections show continuing structural budget pressures driven largely by declining enrollment and reduced state funding tied to enrollment. The forecast indicates that, without substantial spending reductions, the district's unrestricted fund balance would fall below board policy requirements.
Personnel actions are comparatively limited. The supplemental personnel report recommends appointing Lanita Hill as assistant principal at Northwood Middle School beginning July 23, 2026, while the regular personnel report is included as part of the consent agenda.
Financial materials also include routine voucher approvals covering district operations, transportation, facilities, instructional supplies, technology, special education services, nutrition, maintenance, and other operational expenses. While numerous vendors appear in the voucher listings, these represent routine operating expenditures rather than new major policy initiatives.
Major Discussion and Action Items
Appointment of Pro and Con Committee for the 2026 EP&O Levy
The primary action item is appointment of members to the pro and con committee for Resolution No. 1718 concerning the 2026 Educational Programs and Operations Levy. Washington law requires formal committees to prepare statements supporting and opposing ballot measures. The board's action concerns establishing those committees rather than approving the levy itself.
The financial materials explain why district leadership considers replacement of the levy important. The current three-year EP&O levy approved by voters in 2023 expires December 31, 2027. District planning assumes voters will consider a replacement levy during the November 3, 2026 election so funding continues beginning January 1, 2028.
Executive Session
The agenda includes an executive session. Consistent with prior district practice, executive sessions are reserved for matters authorized under state law, including personnel, litigation, or other legally protected discussions. No public deliberation occurs during executive session, although any formal action would occur after returning to open session if necessary.
Personnel Actions
The consent agenda contains both the regular personnel report and a supplemental personnel report.
The supplemental report recommends approval of Lanita Hill as a full-time assistant principal at Northwood Middle School effective July 23, 2026, for the 2026-2027 school year. As with other district employment actions, the appointment remains contingent upon required criminal history review under Washington law.
Review of May 2026 Financial Statement
The financial report provides one of the packet's most significant discussions.
District forecasts project continuing structural deficits as expenditures exceed recurring revenues over multiple fiscal years. The forecast indicates projected structural deficits declining from approximately $22.8 million in 2025-26 to approximately $15.9 million by 2028-29, while steadily reducing available fund balance.
The report notes that, absent additional spending reductions, unrestricted ending fund balance would decline to approximately 0.6 percent, below the minimum established in Board Policy 6022.
Approval of Vouchers
The board is asked to approve routine vouchers covering payments made throughout district operations.
Although the voucher packet spans hundreds of individual transactions, most involve ordinary operational expenses such as instructional materials, transportation, utilities, maintenance, food service, technology, classroom supplies, contracted student services, accessibility accommodations, and facility improvements.
Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Board members are also asked to approve minutes from the July 8, 2026 special meeting.
Those minutes document an executive session, adoption of Resolution No. 1720 concerning defense and potential indemnification of board directors, approval of the consent agenda, and adjournment following approximately forty-five minutes of business.
Financial Matters
The May 2026 financial statement presents the district's most important financial information.
District leadership projects continued enrollment declines from approximately 23,430 annual average full-time equivalent students in 2025-26 to approximately 22,508 by 2028-29. Because state funding is heavily enrollment-driven, the district estimates that revised enrollment reduced anticipated apportionment revenue by approximately $8.2 million. Inclusive Education enrollment declines are projected to reduce related funding by another approximately $6.2 million.
To maintain compliance with Board Policy 6022, which requires a minimum unrestricted fund balance equal to 5 percent of prior-year expenditures, the district adopted approximately $32.5 million in budget reductions for the 2026-27 budget. Staff further project that an additional $9 million in reductions will be needed during 2027-28 and another $8 million during 2028-29 if current assumptions continue.
The report explains that the existing EP&O levy approved by voters in 2023 includes collections of approximately $79.3 million, $82.5 million, and $85.8 million over successive years before expiring at the end of 2027. District planning assumes voter approval of a replacement levy in November 2026 to avoid a funding cliff beginning in 2028.
Routine voucher payments include significant expenditures for student transportation providers, behavioral support services, facilities projects, accessibility accommodations, technology infrastructure, food service, garbage and recycling, engineering, maintenance, instructional supplies, and school operations. While many payments exceed tens of thousands of dollars, they generally represent previously authorized operational obligations rather than new contracts.
Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance
The principal governance action is the appointment of pro and con committee members for Resolution No. 1718 regarding the replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy.
The financial statement also references Board Policy 6022 governing minimum unrestricted fund balance requirements. That policy is influencing ongoing budget reductions intended to preserve long-term fiscal stability.
No major policy revisions or ordinance-style governance changes beyond routine board business are identified elsewhere in the accessible packet.
The May 2026 Financial Statement is the principal informational report.
Key themes include declining enrollment, projected revenue reductions, multi-year budget forecasting, labor cost assumptions, bargaining agreement timelines, projected employee benefit costs, and expenditure controls designed to maintain required reserves.
The report explains that district assumptions include relatively stable federal funding, inflation adjustments through the Implicit Price Deflator, existing collective bargaining agreements, projected health benefit costs, and continued efforts to identify operational efficiencies.
The agenda also includes informational reports regarding gifts or donations valued between $250 and $9,999.99, although no significant narrative discussion accompanies that item in the accessible text.
Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters
Personnel matters are handled through the consent agenda.
The supplemental personnel report recommends hiring Lanita Hill as assistant principal at Northwood Middle School effective July 23, 2026.
The financial report also summarizes the status of multiple collective bargaining agreements covering teachers, principals, paraeducators, food service employees, maintenance staff, bus drivers, coaches, office professionals, and other employee groups. These agreements establish compensation assumptions incorporated into the district's multi-year financial forecast.
Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations
Voucher materials reflect continued investment in district operations across numerous facilities and programs.
Payments support transportation services for students, engineering work on mechanical and fire alarm upgrades, school building improvements, technology infrastructure, classroom equipment, instructional materials, special education supports, school nutrition, maintenance, grounds, utilities, accessibility improvements, and facility modernization.
The voucher listings demonstrate that the district continues investing in both instructional operations and long-term maintenance while managing significant financial pressures.
The most significant public participation opportunity involves the upcoming replacement EP&O Levy.
Appointment of pro and con committees begins the public process required for a ballot measure. According to the financial report, the district anticipates asking voters to consider the replacement levy during the November 3, 2026 election.
Regular public comment opportunities remain available through board meetings consistent with district procedures, although no separate public hearing is identified in the accessible packet.
Students and families are most directly affected by the district's financial outlook. Continued enrollment declines and reduced revenues require ongoing budget reductions while district leaders attempt to preserve instructional services.
Taxpayers may see the replacement EP&O levy become a major community issue leading up to the November 2026 election because local levy funding supports educational programs and operations beyond basic state funding.
District employees are affected through long-term financial planning, collective bargaining assumptions, hiring decisions, and continued efforts to achieve operational efficiencies while maintaining required reserve levels.
Community members also have an interest in how district leadership balances financial sustainability with maintaining academic programs, transportation, special education services, facilities, and student supports.
- Why is the replacement EP&O levy being proposed in 2026 rather than waiting until 2027?
- What services would be most affected if the replacement levy is not approved?
- How much of the projected budget shortfall is attributable to enrollment decline versus other factors?
- Which budget reductions totaling $32.5 million have already been implemented?
- What additional reductions are anticipated for 2027-28 and 2028-29?
- How will the district maintain classroom services while reducing expenditures?
- What assumptions in the financial forecast present the greatest uncertainty?
- How will the appointment of the pro and con committees proceed?
- What metrics will the board use to monitor financial recovery?
- How will staffing decisions be affected by future enrollment trends?
Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps
- July 22, 2026: Board considers appointment of pro and con committee members, personnel actions, vouchers, meeting minutes, and financial reports.
- July 23, 2026: Proposed effective date for Lanita Hill's appointment as assistant principal at Northwood Middle School.
- November 3, 2026: District expects voters to consider the replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy.
- December 31, 2027: Existing EP&O levy expires.
- January 1, 2028: Replacement levy is intended to become effective if approved by voters.
- 2027-28 and 2028-29: District forecasts indicate additional budget reductions may be necessary to maintain required reserves.
Key Takeaways
- The meeting's primary action concerns appointment of pro and con committees for the 2026 replacement EP&O levy.
- District financial forecasts continue to show structural budget deficits driven largely by enrollment declines.
- Approximately $32.5 million in budget reductions have already been incorporated into the 2026-27 budget.
- Additional reductions of approximately $9 million and $8 million are projected in the following two fiscal years.
- Board Policy 6022 requires maintaining a minimum 5 percent unrestricted fund balance.
- The existing EP&O levy expires at the end of 2027.
- The district plans to seek voter approval of a replacement levy during the November 3, 2026 election.
- A supplemental personnel recommendation appoints Lanita Hill as assistant principal at Northwood Middle School.
- Voucher approvals primarily cover routine operational expenditures across district programs and facilities.
- Approval of prior meeting minutes completes routine governance responsibilities.
Official Sources
About the Public Body
- Name: Kent School District
- Organization type: school-district
- Government body: school-boards
- Location: Kent, washington
- County: King
- Provider: boarddocs
Keywords
Kent School District, Kent School Board, Special Meeting, July 22 2026, Resolution 1718, Educational Programs and Operations Levy, EP&O Levy, levy replacement, November 2026 election, May 2026 financial statement, budget forecast, enrollment decline, structural deficit, Board Policy 6022, fund balance, Northwood Middle School, Lanita Hill, personnel report, vouchers, transportation, special education, facilities, collective bargaining, executive session, King County, Washington, school finance, operating budget, board governance
