July 23, 2024 - College Place, WA – The College Place Public Schools (CPPS) Board of Directors approved the proposed budget for the 2024-2025 school year at its regular school board meeting Tuesday night. The board reviewed the details of the budget in a special board meeting prior seeing the months of planning, prioritizing, and feedback come to fruition for board members Mandy Thompson, Todd Stubblefield, Eva Brown, Anne-Marie Bauman, and Jamie Williams.
The budget outlines a total revenue of $28,953,614 against total expenditures amounting to $31,851,854. This cautious approach reflects a commitment to maintaining financial stability while addressing the district’s educational needs. The District will dip into its fund balance with significant enhancements in personnel focused on student social, emotional, and physical health. Notably, the district will add a full-time licensed mental health therapist and a second full-time registered nurse. Additionally, the Communities in Schools program will be introduced at Davis Elementary, alongside an additional Campus Support paraprofessional for behavioral support at the same school. These initiatives reflect CPPS’s commitment to providing comprehensive support for students' well-being.
The district continues to lead in maintaining low teacher-to-student ratios, ensuring individualized attention and support for each student. This approach allows teachers to address to the unique learning needs of every child, fostering an environment where students can thrive. In addition to this, the district is targeting specific program improvements to further enhance the educational experience. These include substantial upgrades in the CPPS K-12 School of Music, agricultural science education and FFA programs, as well as facility upgrades for activities and athletics.
College Place Public Schools School Superintendent Jim Fry highlighted the significance of these initiatives, stating, “We are pleased that our fund balance allows us to continue our commitment to maintaining low teacher-to-student ratios as we know can continue to meet the needs of students in College Place. We are equally enthusiastic about the advancements in targeted programs this year, which will provide students with greater opportunities to excel in areas such as music, agricultural science, and athletics in the future.”
The budget was created with an eye on the historical financial performance of the district as a board priority. Over the years, the district has consistently maintained an appropriate ending fund balance giving it the ability to adapt to unforeseen challenges. In addition to the targeted program enhancements, the budget for the upcoming school year includes specific allocations for instructional curriculum enhancements, salaries, facility improvements, and instructional technology as well. These allocations ensure that every aspect of the school system is addressed, fulfilling College Place Public Schools' commitment to providing exceptional educational experiences by focusing on students and their learning.
###For further information, community members can contact Superintendent Jim Fry at jfry@cpps.org or Director of Business Services Jose Godinez at jgodinez@cpps.org.