Operations Networking Meeting: School Year Kick Off (Recording)-10.07.26 - PPT

10.07.26 - PPT - School Year Kickoff

Pdf Summary

The WASBO Operations Networking Group’s October 7, 2026 meeting focused on school-year updates for transportation and child nutrition.<br /><br />Transportation updates included SB 5009, which allows certain non-school-bus vehicles to be reported for home-to-school operations allocations and to qualify for depreciation reimbursement when purchased through approved processes. Such vehicles may also be purchased using Transportation Vehicle Fund money. OSPI must develop driver training requirements, including monitoring and disqualifying conditions. SB 6260 extends vehicle depreciation lifetimes from 8/13 years to 10/15 years and reduces electric-vehicle depreciation payments by 66% through the 2027–28 school year.<br /><br />For child nutrition, the group emphasized that the program involves financial management, claims, procurement, and compliance—not only meal service. Before serving meals, districts should verify program approvals and calendars, prepare eligibility materials, test meal-counting systems, assign claim responsibilities, and set and communicate prices. Accurate meal counts and eligibility records are essential to reimbursement and financial oversight.<br /><br />Recommended monthly claim workflow: reconcile meal counts and records by the 5th, have the business office review claims and financial data by the 10th, and meet the initial processing deadline by the 15th at 2:00 p.m. Final claims are generally due within 60 days of the claim month. Districts should also monitor meals served, revenue, inventory, and budget-to-actual expenses.<br /><br />Procurement must follow written procedures and the appropriate purchasing method. Districts should retain quotes, bids, contracts, and conflict-of-interest records, and document any applicable Buy American exceptions. The presentation outlined different state and federal purchasing thresholds.<br /><br />The next networking meeting is November 4, 2026.

Keywords

WASBO

transportation updates

child nutrition

SB 5009

SB 6260

depreciation reimbursement

school district procurement

meal claims

reimbursement compliance

buy American

Transportation

Vehicle Depreciation

Procurement

School District Finance

Reimbursement