The Marysville School District Superintendent, Dr. Zac Robbins, and the Board of Directors received a letter from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Chris Reykdal, notifying the district that the district will move to Enhanced Financial Oversight.
Following a scheduled meeting for the binding conditions with representatives from OSPI and the NW ESD, OSPI representatives informed the district that State Superintendent Chris Reykdal is moving the district to enhanced financial monitoring per RCW 28A.315.221, which will include the appointment of a special administrator. Following the meeting, the superintendent and board of directors received a letter from Superintendent Reykdal outlining his intentions. As stated in the RCW, enhanced financial oversight may consist of, but is not limited to, the following types of actions, which the superintendent of public instruction is expressly authorized to implement and enforce:
(a) Appointment of a special administrator to oversee and carry out financial conditions imposed on the district as recommended by the financial oversight committee;
(b) Review, approval, and limitations on a school district's authority to enter into contracts;
(c) Review, approval, and limitations on hiring and personnel actions; and
(d) Liquidation or disposition of fixed assets and contractual liabilities by any reasonable and documented method provided the liquidation or disposition of fixed assets and contractual liabilities is reasonably necessary before filing a dissolution petition.
(6) Any new, amended, or renewed contract entered into by a school district that is subject to enhanced financial monitoring that has not been approved by the educational service district or special administrator, or that is inconsistent with conditions imposed on the district pursuant to this section, is null and void.
(7) Any action taken by a school district subject to enhanced financial monitoring that is likely to affect the district's finances is null and void if the action was not approved by the educational service district or special administrator or if the action is inconsistent with conditions imposed on the district pursuant to this section.
(8) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules to carry out the provisions in this section, which may include, but are not limited to, identifying the responsibilities and authority of the financial oversight committee, the educational service district, the special administrator, and the school district and the implementation of enhanced financial oversight.
The letter also outlines specific steps that the special administrator will implement and immediate requirements that the district must meet. The district has already implemented several of these and will report to the special administrator and the financial oversight committee. Superintendent Reykdal will notify the district of the appointment of the special administrator soon.