Who Oversees Financial Accountability for School Districts?
1. Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).
OSPI sets the rules for school finances.
Regular financial reports from all districts.
Public data on district budgets, expenditures, and funding sources.
2. Washington State Auditor’s Office (SAO)
Conducts regular audits of every school district.
Audits look at:
How money is spent.
Whether laws and rules are followed.
Whether financial records are accurate.
Audit results are public and posted online.
You are welcome!
Facilities Advisory Committee
Tuesday, June 25
6:00 pm
School District Administration Office
https://www.dpsd.org/o/dpsd/page/facilities-advisory-committee
DPHS served 116 students from 2nd grade to 12th grade for the annual volleyball camp. The students had a great time, and many thanks to the volleyball coaching staff!
Did you know? Per RCW 28A.150.260, in Washington State, funding per student does not directly follow each individual student to the specific school they attend because the state's K–12 funding system is based on a district-level allocation model, not a per-school or per-student voucher system.
Here is more information:
In Washington State, schools are primarily funded through a combination of state taxes, local property taxes, and federal funds. Here's a high-level breakdown:
State Funding: The state government allocates money for education from taxes collected statewide. This funding is distributed to school districts based on various factors, including student enrollment and specific educational needs.
Local Funding: Local school districts also receive money from property taxes paid by homeowners and businesses within the district boundaries. These funds are used to supplement state allocations and can vary based on local property values and tax rates.
Federal Funding: Schools receive additional support from the federal government through programs like Title I (which supports schools with a high percentage of students from low-income families), special education grants, and other federal initiatives aimed at enhancing educational opportunities.
Other Sources: Some schools may also receive funding through grants, donations, and specific local levies approved by voters to fund particular programs or facility improvements.
To learn about DPSD's budget: https://5il.co/2vdf5
To view DPSD's financial documents and records (all public), visit: https://ospi.k12.wa.us/.../school-apportionment/safs-report
Learn about WA state school funding: https://ospi.k12.wa.us/policy-funding and https://www.waschoolfunding.org/
Overall, the funding landscape ensures that resources are allocated to support educational programs, facilities, and services necessary for student learning and development across the state.
Congratulations to the DPHS class of 2025!
Summer is upon us! The last day of school is June 11th with early release as follows: Elementary + Arcadia - 10:30 a.m., Middle School - 10:25 a.m., and High School 10:10 a.m..
Offices open again on August 13th, with the first day back for students on August 27th. Kindergarten students start on September 2nd, and Home Link starts on September 8th. We hope you have a fantastic summer break, and we are all looking forward to a great 2025-26 school year!
Did you know that public school systems are held to high accountability measures to ensure transparency, responsibility, and that public funds are spent wisely? Districts are held accountable through annual public audits (State Auditor's Office), School Board oversight, state reporting requirements (OSPI), public access and transparency, and performance measures (OSPI).
To learn about DPSD's budget: https://5il.co/2vdf5
To view DPSD's financial documents and records (all public), visit: https://ospi.k12.wa.us/policy-funding/school-apportionment/safs-report
Learn about WA state school funding: https://ospi.k12.wa.us/policy-funding and https://www.waschoolfunding.org/
Today, we celebrated a big milestone for our preschoolers as they graduated and prepared to take their next step into kindergarten. Their field day was filled with fun, laughter, and excitement. We can’t wait to see them continue to learn and shine in the years to come. Congratulations to our preschool graduates!
#PreschoolGraduation #FieldDayFun #FutureKindergarteners
We want to hear from you! Before moving forward with the recommended capital levy, the School Board wants to hear from its families, staff, and community regarding the committee’s priority projects. The district has created a survey that allows stakeholders to provide input. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts to help the School Board ensure that the committee’s recommendation aligns with our community’s priorities. Please take a moment to fill out our survey below. Please complete by June 20th. Survey here: https://my.thoughtexchange.com/scroll/168300841/welcome
For more information, click here: https://www.dpsd.org/page/levy2025
Facilities Advisory Committee: https://www.dpsd.org/o/dpsd/page/facilities-advisory-committee
The state’s school funding formula doesn't provide resources for large capital costs. While resources are provided through limited funds for general care and upkeep, districts must rely on capital levies and bonds to address larger renovations and new construction needs.
'Tis the reason for the season! Congratulations to our 2025 graduates (all 188 of them!) Our youngest learners congratulated DPHS graduates today as they walked through the halls. The graduates visited DPE, Arcadia, and DPMS. Pick up the special senior edition of the Tribune (Bob Mart, Pickett Fence, or Yokes)! Many thanks to the educators, families, and the community for supporting this fantastic class! We are so proud of you! #InspireExcellence
Congratulations to DPHS track at State!
MEDAL WINNERS:
Darrin McCanna/Tommy Allison: 5th place 2A/3A/4A combined Unified Shotput
Sophia Phillips, Neveah Gonzales, Darrin McCanna, Keith Schick: 7th place 2A/3A/4A combined Unified SMR 800 relay.
Darrin McCanna/Tommy Allison: 2nd place 2A/3A/4A combined Unified 100m Dash
Myah Desalles: 9th place 2A Girls Triple Jump
Mattison Wainwright: 13th place 2A Girls High Jump
Jacey Boesel: 11th place 2A Girls Long Jump
Sophia Phillips, Brooklyn Coe, Frankie Allison, Darrin McCanna: 11th place Unified 2A/3A/4A combined 4x100 Relay
Today, our 7th graders were out in the community taking part in the Seventh (grade) Spikes Spring Service Project (4S Project)! They’re making a real difference through hands-on service and showing what it means to be thoughtful, engaged citizens. We’re so proud of their hard work and heart!
#4SProject #CommunityService #InspireExcellence
Congratulations to our 2025 Retirees!
We had the honor, a few weeks ago, to celebrate and recognize the staff members who are retiring this year. As part of our tradition, each retiree who has served our district for over five years is presented with a golden apple - a symbol of knowledge, wisdom, and the deep appreciation we hold for their commitment.
We are truly grateful to all those who have dedicated themselves to the education, safety, and care of our students. Your hard work has left a lasting impact, and we thank each of you for your passion, commitment, and service.
Thank you, Lauren Inman, Kevin Kernan, Scott Carlson, Adeline Tooley, Dawn Geyer, Kathy Sanborn, Lisa Carnes, Kim Ruyrok, Esther Collin, Joyce Henning, and Renee Attridge!
We wish you all the very best as you embark on new and exciting adventures in the next chapter of your lives.
Congratulations to DPHS senior Katie Nelson. She was selected as the Fire Department Student of the Year. Katie was able to ride in the fire truck with a full escort to school! Way to go Katie!
Yesterday evening, the Board of Directors recognized Laurie Goodnight with the Above and Beyond Award. Laurie leads our Special Education Department with incredible dedication. She’s a role model for staff, a great communicator with families, and works tirelessly to support student success through thoughtful scheduling, connecting with outside resources, and ensuring proper accommodations.
From organizing work-site learning opportunities to building paraeducator schedules, Laurie does it all with high energy and a student-first mindset. She’s often the first to arrive and the last to leave, and is deeply respected for her knowledge, leadership, and work ethic.
Thank you, Laurie, for going above and beyond!
#inspireexcellence
Congratulations to Deer Park Middle School for earning the Washington State Board of Education and Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Outstanding Achievement Award for the 2023-24 school year. Only 16% of schools in Washington earned this award. Deer Park Middle School was recognized for student growth, specifically, " Growth for students in one or more racial or ethnic groups." Their collaboration, focus on standards, common assessments, data analysis, and student growth continue to pay off. For more information: https://sbe.wa.gov/our-work/school-recognition.
A Little Free Library was recently added at Deer Park Elementary. With support from staff, the library was registered and installed to help share the joy of reading with students, families, and the community. Students learned about the program, created bookmarks from old catalog cards, and helped fill the library with donated books. Special guests came during the special ribbon-cutting ceremony, including author and writer Laura Chamberlain and Dexter. Ms. Chamberlain also donated a book she wrote! This small but mighty library is one more way to promote a love of books and learning all year long. Stop by to check it out! Many thanks to Ms. Kellie Hunt, librarian, Jollene Vining, principal, and PTO for their support. Download the Little Free Library app to find others nearby!
Our Unified Track and Field team at DPHS has worked hard all season! The Unified Shot Put & the Unified 100m dash were added to the GSL this year, including our previous events; the Sprint Medley Relay (100m, 100m, 200m, 400m) and 4x100m relay. Now we have a total of 4 events, which is great considering in Track and Field, all athletes are only allowed to compete in a total of 4 events per meet. To compete in the Unified Division, an athlete with an Intellectual or Developmental Disability is paired with a partner on the track team. The athlete and their partner will both get their measurements, and the score will be determined by taking the average of the 2. We are looking forward to competing at State in all 4 events this year and seeing inclusion grow in the world of Track and Field.
DPMS 6th graders are making memories that will last a lifetime at Camp Reed and all doing well at camp this week!
