Highlights from the 2008-09 school year

District Boundary Review Committee 
- After nearly two years of study, the board approved elementary and middle school boundary revisions. Implementation will be Fall 2009. The plan helps maintain neighborhood schools and balances enrollment counts.

Southeast Washington Transportation Cooperative 
- Board adopted a resolution to form a Transportation Cooperative hosted by Walla Walla Public Schools. Dixie, Prescott and ESD 123 have elected to join the cooperative for bus maintenance and repair service. Construction is expected to begin summer 2009.

*NEXT PHASE: A Support Services complex (warehouse, maintenance, grounds, print shop, food services) will be built on the same site as the Transportation Cooperative. Bids are expected to go out winter 2010. The district is using the $3.4 million state matching money from the Edison project to fund the Transportation Cooperative. This will leverage nearly another $4 million in state matching money from the Transportation Cooperative project.

The district communicated openly prior to the Edison bond election that state matching funds would be used to support district capital improvement projects. The district has successfully used this formula for decades. Examples: A large portion of the state matching funds from the Sharpstein project funded air conditioning and new heating systems at Prospect Point. Matching funds from the Green Park project provided funds for major roofing and asphalt projects.

High School Skills Center 
- A feasibility study was conducted and results indicate strong interest and need for a skills center. 
- The Walla Walla Skills Center will be a branch campus of Tri-Tech (Kennewick School District).
- The district received $100,000 from the state legislation for predesign services.
- An agreement was formed with Walla Walla Community College to locate the skills center on WWCC property.
- An agreement to participate and transport students was entered into by Walla Walla, Prescott, Milton-Freewater, Waitsburg, Touchet, Dayton, and possibly Pomeroy.

2009-10 Budget Savings Plan - Plan reduces expenditures by $3.5 million
- Budget Savings Plan was adopted by the school board in May 2009 ($3.5 million budget savings) 
- Plan focuses on protecting class size, has limited impact on student programs and no layoffs for permanent staff.