[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6146565,"mediaKeyId","5525816-33f7e882473a51778c2405a65e2841b0","parentId",5525816,"title","Board approves Sunburst paraeducator contract after members seek flexibility and data on staffing","audioSeconds",754,"startMs",4692000,"endMs",5446000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5525816-33f7e882473a51778c2405a65e2841b0&start=4692&end=5446","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5525816-33f7e882473a51778c2405a65e2841b0/thumbnail_4692000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6146565/Washington/Board-approves-Sunburst-paraeducator-contract-after-members-seek-flexibility-and-data-on-staffing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6146565-224c52856936ca66c16ef725addad211/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422969&Signature=gR7s5mMy3q9JkRELEoE1N4GyVEqIsw3vKU00rKvh5lnw1DlzwVz1FoTlPeboPIIBYQ3IJi0Ulk29R1N779aDp0H3R2UNri~o6fxZnlnJmSAXuTldMdPm0WzvyI2mIft1MiUajFJgXP4WVfk3FlgXowaV5OqW0aEgmjWCtI7ltnLaJf63fcB53amoVNASR018mkyW9nzQqJ8kdPevg8uLShjr3WMFjJk9mHSzieMx0tAg-9aO1Z8VqqTGTOVJohYruPMbNoBSXZNIVUzkTpHrAyZXSyiRB3EJHoTORzWeBbo7eZvIltatlPGTf6BaQj6jIGYXmE1jst7WtmlWI1UgeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bellevue School District, Washington","date","2025-08-03T12:16:36.137Z","article","Bellevue School District officials told the board on July 31 that the district will continue a contract with Sunburst to provide paraeducator staff for special-education needs, a contract the board approved after a short discussion and a request for additional detail.

Scott Powers, executive director of Inclusion and Accessibility, described para staffing levels and the district’s approach: the district reported four para staffing “levels” and that staffing counts fluctuate with student needs. For the 2024–25 year the district reported about 368 paras in its 3–4 classification; the district is targeting about 362 paras for the coming year. Powers said the district reduced reliance on contracted paras over the past four years — dropping from about 120 contracted paras to roughly 30–35 — and described the contractor pool as a source of flexibility for emergency coverage and short-term needs.

Powers told the board the district favors hiring paraeducators as district employees when possible and has used contractors to fill gaps while building internal capacity. He said the contractor (Sunburst) aligns its training with district expectations and that when contractors perform well the district often hires them as direct employees.

Board members asked about monitoring and continuity. Powers said contractor paras work alongside district staff and participate in site-level handoffs so student information and supports travel with the student. Board members asked whether the contract includes contingency for unexpected enrollment of students with IEPs; Powers said the district builds contingency into its projections and retains some contract flexibility to meet those needs.

Director Phil Block and others thanked staff for the explanation. A motion to approve the contract was moved from the floor and passed after discussion.

Provenance: The Sunburst workforce contract was pulled from the consent agenda, discussed under board business, and approved by the board on July 31.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular Board Meeting July 31, 2025 Meeting Recording","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved a contract to provide paraeducator staff through Sunburst (contractor) to give the district flexible staffing capacity as student IEP needs fluctuate; district officials said most paras are direct hires and the contractor pool provides short-term and emergency coverage.","taxTitle","Bellevue School District, School Districts, Washington","taxId",13035,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6146570,"Bellevue LifeSpring donates $45,000 to erase student meal debt as district reports increased participation",228,1214000,1442000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5525816-33f7e882473a51778c2405a65e2841b0&start=1214&end=1442","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5525816-33f7e882473a51778c2405a65e2841b0/thumbnail_1214000.jpg","/articles/6146570/Washington/Bellevue-LifeSpring-donates-45000-to-erase-student-meal-debt-as-district-reports-increased-participation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6146570-8c2fe1bb8866dd1c66e2000991259fb7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422969&Signature=nq7PeF-Ke5vz8bi5dEVkr83jpulVwk1tZuM6G1Tm6kDyANqlZZ6zbtp3AWmE4XNqdKGNJgnoZT1JYwEfFasAcVQxu7nvTadvjbeMiy99fK8L2Dpk-5ezFxKWcKdQ2j7f6R8rdNFD71kHZkI-0BX98UWZDF7hDLk--Yt~xbGeoe3scwrpXx1R9XSPUw5KHgoqHz9gIuZoZ2KN6ZO~4DuznKOuuhqmmDAbo9UFaDsX3Z~0XWl97qwYz5p4xVnU4o~CcMfWSwDnhyruSxsvJyH-8AZYc-MpoYln4ahcso6wniBMcOO5WEVU4TTnx48dqt6WVh9CNKc8kEBinlEdcz53Jw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wendy Wire, the district’s director of Nutrition Services, told the board on July 31 that Bellevue served about 1,470,000 lunches last year — roughly 8,200 lunches per day — a 10% increase from the prior year and about 20% growth over two years. Breakfast participation increased approximately 25%, adding an estimated 250 students daily, she said.

Wire said the district doubled the number of schools offering no-cost meals to all students at several locations this year, which contributed to participation gains. She told the board that while federal and state funding covers meals for students who qualify, the district is required by state law to provide a meal to any student who requests one; unpaid purchases become a charge on the student meal account.

By the end of the year the district had more than $40,000 in unpaid meal debt on active student accounts affecting roughly 1,000 students, Wire said. Bellevue LifeSpring, a local nonprofit that provides grocery vouchers and other supports, donated $45,000 to Nutrition Services to eliminate the outstanding charges. Wire asked the board and community to join in thanking Bellevue LifeSpring and its executive director, Jennifer Fisher, for the contribution.

A board member said erasing the debt was an \"easy decision\" for the board and consistent with district goals to end hunger and homelessness among students. The board’s public acknowledgement indicates the district will apply the donation to clear outstanding student meal debts, allowing families to start the next school year without meal-account charges.

Context: Nutrition Services said participation growth is related to menu changes, expanded no-cost meal programs at specified schools, and general outreach. The district said unpaid meal debt can cause stress for families and that community donations and graduating families’ unused account funds historically help reduce outstanding balances. Nutrition Services said the $45,000 gift will cover the unpaid balances referenced in the presentation.

Provenance: District Nutrition Services presentation during the superintendent update included participation metrics and the report of Bellevue LifeSpring’s $45,000 donation to pay off student meal debt.","Bellevue’s Nutrition Services reported a 10% increase in lunch participation last year (1,470,000 lunches; ~8,200 lunches/day), breakfast up 25%, and $40,000 in unpaid meal debt across about 1,000 student accounts; Bellevue LifeSpring donated $45,000 to clear outstanding debts ahead of the school year.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6146575,"Board adopts 2025–26 annual plan focusing on fund balance, literacy/math and chronic absenteeism",1416,3261000,4677000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5525816-33f7e882473a51778c2405a65e2841b0&start=3261&end=4677","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5525816-33f7e882473a51778c2405a65e2841b0/thumbnail_3261000.jpg","/articles/6146575/Washington/Board-adopts-202526-annual-plan-focusing-on-fund-balance-literacymath-and-chronic-absenteeism","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6146575-039e75e2575b202cc0d0ab2007a91fdc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422969&Signature=Fn9XLOrgPUyV5Vr9fnB5sbZkpE7LZ3ui5puW1EkANqPCYqYDy-JEz72UJGZtfOTyn79xuWJKTbUdAxOLIUysa3hNBeBtOESs68OAuciylSzzkhj5QoHjHqXCXNROvmgbR9n5oEb9HUNCSCWgSiPGDmAqIqLR1WGw1sRdjGXx71SB12aWZy2UbS8b98v6MNMTYXrIkT0~dVYwDzjuXKabN56pi7R2Gjy0YOv162vgM366RzTAjSBQ2Vv8B82vmb0a~QAe-a3h5ye3UpK5xQgGKD-JlcUGHEbzouosKNIqWy4S9BE4ap9Y6Rt4wttmYw-~MsGKcuC10AP87fXp1khBAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bellevue School District Board of Directors on July 31 unanimously approved the district’s 2025–26 annual plan, which narrows work to three systemwide focus goals — restore financial stability, improve literacy and math proficiency, and reduce chronic absenteeism — with seven supporting foundation goals.

Superintendent Dr. Kelly Aramaki told the board the annual plan translates the district’s 2024–29 strategic plan into a one-year program of work, and she described it as a focused approach after a larger set of initiatives in prior years. \"This year we have organized it into 3 focus goals and 7 foundation goals,\" she said.

The financial stability goal sets a one-year target to increase the district’s general fund balance from negative $5 million to at least negative $3 million by Aug. 30, 2026; Dr. Aramaki said that target is part of the district’s binding conditions agreement with OSPI. The district also plans targeted actions to increase enrollment and to take advantage of new levy capacity created in recent state legislation.

Under the We Learn focus, the plan calls for measurable gains in third-grade literacy and fifth- and eighth-grade math, including a minimum 3-percentage-point improvement for underserved student groups over the year. The We Belong focus sets targets to reduce chronic absenteeism by 1–2 percentage points for all students and by 2–3 percentage points for underserved groups in one year.

Board members praised the plan’s narrower scope and the district’s approach to implementation. Director Martha Trijuez said the annual plan is the start of a multi-year implementation that \"marks the beginning of a multi-year effort\" and urged a strong communications strategy to keep families and staff aligned. Director Monica Webster asked how families — particularly from underrepresented communities — will be engaged in defining \"future ready\" pathways; staff said co-design with families remains a priority.

The board asked staff to align school improvement plans with the district annual plan and to report progress through regular briefings. The plan specifies quantitative metrics for the three focus goals and describes the foundation goals (belonging, student engagement, teacher practice, student agency, future readiness, human-centered systems and sustainability) that will support them.

Board President Carolyn Watson moved to approve the annual plan; the motion passed with unanimous assent. Staff said school-level plans and progress measures will be developed in August and shared during the school year.

Context: The district adopted a five-year strategic plan in 2024; the annual plan operationalizes that strategy for the coming school year. Dr. Aramaki said staff narrowed the set of initiatives from 20 to 10 to reduce burden on educators during a year of financial constraint. The plan will guide budgeting, school-improvement work and community outreach across 2025–26.","The Bellevue School District board approved a streamlined annual plan concentrating on three focus goals — financial stability, literacy/math proficiency and reducing chronic absenteeism — plus seven foundation goals to support implementation across the system.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6146580,"Bellevue board approves sale of Somerset property to speed fund-balance recovery under state \"binding conditions\"",1049,2216000,3265000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5525816-33f7e882473a51778c2405a65e2841b0&start=2216&end=3265","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5525816-33f7e882473a51778c2405a65e2841b0/thumbnail_2216000.jpg","/articles/6146580/Washington/Bellevue-board-approves-sale-of-Somerset-property-to-speed-fund-balance-recovery-under-state-binding-conditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6146580-b1a126c28c8e51afa7d25673c5a3a2b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422969&Signature=kcprA275K1HIsxdsYzcj0amWU~~Xn5Rkp2EIJh6RxozO~fneFpv0wRpNWBhEN2lDkcus5F4UoC71QgNyYeNCfOQkXu-uz3EFAaoatiUhWUZ7AjOgaijUMwoZ4PKVCRgLAIjZXJ~-Jc0LUXA1OpGKb3hP-~ZszpLnDzgstswmNVOdA1hw6~irvnMsmG1hKzsa1oUDl0KpTEP5Wfr~S~n6Q5fotexVYjH9CHMQuvsaXExkprvAqDATs2THpibL4e6YX3U-z9BCa2EZVVKvnInmcvnGkjg9H6GUZ9rRsyYe4-G~b4ujctIAunDv~m6PjB8I-LE~Remx9mF6O2GYZh7sqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bellevue School District Board of Directors on July 31 approved a purchase-and-sale agreement to sell a 10.1-acre parcel known as Somerset 2 to Tri Pointe Homes of Washington, authorizing district staff to complete the transaction with a targeted closing no later than December 2026 and an outside date of June 2027. The board approved the resolution authorizing the sale by roll call vote.

The sale is part of a package of actions Bellevue is taking while in binding financial conditions with the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Superintendent Dr. Kelly Aramaki told the board that binding conditions are \"a partnership\" with OSPI and are intended to restore the district's fund balance, not to effect a state takeover. She said recent state legislation gives districts in binding conditions new recovery tools.

The board resolution approved the purchase-and-sale agreement that lists a purchase price of $30,000,000, with $1,500,000 in earnest money secured by a promissory note payable at closing. The sale agreement begins a feasibility period on execution, with a waiver deadline in October 2025, a target closing in December 2026 and an outside closing (with extensions) of June 2027, Chief Operations Officer Heather Sanchez told the board.

Why it matters: Under legislation passed in 2025, districts in OSPI binding conditions can deposit one-time proceeds from property sales into the general fund rather than being required to place proceeds into capital funds. Dr. Aramaki cited Senate Bill 5412 as the change that allowed the district to consider the Somerset sale as a tool to rapidly restore the district's reserves. She also cited House Bill 2049, which increases allowable local levy collection beginning in 2026 and is expected to raise roughly $5 million in a partial year and $10 million annually thereafter for the district.

Board members said the Somerset parcel has physical constraints — steep slopes and wetlands — that make it unsuitable for a future elementary school, and that declaring it surplus followed a public hearing and a competitive sale process. Director Phil Block said the district received multiple responsive bids and used outside counsel and a real estate agent to manage a competitive process. \"It was a very well received property and we had a very, very good bidding process,\" Block said.

Chief Operations Officer Heather Sanchez and Superintendent Aramaki emphasized that proceeds will be used to restore the general fund balance required under board policy and OSPI conditions. Sanchez told the board the funds will be used to rebuild the district \"piggy bank\" so the district has the reserves needed for cash-flow and unanticipated events.

The resolution cites RCW 28A.335.120 and records that the board held a public hearing on June 20, 2024, before declaring Somerset 2 surplus and advancing the sale. The purchaser is identified in the contract as Tri Pointe Homes of Washington, a residential developer; the district presentations said the site is planned for single-family residential development.

Board President Carolyn Watson moved the resolution and it passed on a roll call with Directors Phil Block, Carolyn Watson, Martha Trijuez, Monica Webster and another director recorded as voting \"aye.\" The board discussion included requests to accelerate paperwork to meet the December 2026 target and assurances the district will provide permitting updates to the community.

Background and next steps: Dr. Aramaki framed the sale as one component of a multi-pronged recovery plan that also relies on state legislative changes and increased levy capacity. The district said it began surplus-property planning more than a year before entering binding conditions and that the sale was under consideration prior to the 2025 bills that changed how proceeds could be used. The district will post transaction documents publicly following board approval and will work with OSPI as part of the binding-conditions process.

Provenance: Board staff introduced the sale and presented the purchase-and-sale agreement during board business (COO Heather Sanchez). The board read and approved Resolution No. 2025-9 on the record and completed a roll-call vote.

Less-critical details: The district said it had obtained outside legal counsel to assist the sale and that earnest money becomes nonrefundable upon the buyer's feasibility approval. The buyer will be responsible for development entitlements and any public signage or project notices would proceed under the city’s permitting rules, the board noted.","The Bellevue School District board voted to approve a purchase-and-sale agreement to sell 10.1 acres at Somerset to Tri Pointe Homes, using new 2025 state law flexibilities to deposit proceeds into the general fund as the district works with OSPI under binding financial conditions to restore its reserve.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves Sunburst paraeducator contract after members seek flexibility and data on staffing

Bellevue LifeSpring donates $45,000 to erase student meal debt as district reports increased participation

Board adopts 2025–26 annual plan focusing on fund balance, literacy/math and chronic absenteeism

Bellevue board approves sale of Somerset property to speed fund-balance recovery under state "binding conditions"