Bend‑LaPine board recap: budget committee approves draft budget; district plans YouTube limits and adopts fundraising policy

Deputy Superintendent Lisa Burke summarized the Bend‑LaPine Administrative SD 1 budget committee and school board meeting on May 12, 2026, saying the district’s budget committee approved a draft budget and that the draft now will go to the full board for a public hearing and possible final approval.

Why it matters: Committee approval advances the budget process while district leaders said they are continuing to make difficult spending choices because of fiscal constraints. Separately, the board moved forward on policies that could change classroom technology access and district fundraising practices.

The budget and next steps
Lisa Burke said the budget committee met earlier in the evening, reviewed the state of the district’s finances and the “number of different cuts” made to meet next year’s constraints. She reported the committee approved the draft budget; the approval means the budget will be presented to the full board for a hearing and a subsequent vote. The committee-level action was described as an approval to advance the draft; no final board vote on the budget was recorded in the transcript.

Educational technology: YouTube and tool curation
Dr. Karen Rush, the district’s executive director of elementary programs, and Scott McDonald, director of information technology, delivered an in-person report on information and educational-technology priorities for the 2026–27 school year. Burke said this followed a board resolution asking the district for specific information about technology use and tool management.

According to the report as summarized by Burke, the district plans to limit student access to YouTube in 2026–27 and to curate the set of tools available on district platforms by removing obsolete or seldom-used applications. The presentation emphasized professional development for staff and increased transparency for families about what to expect at each grade level regarding classroom and device-based technology. The transcript does not record technical implementation details, timelines beyond “next year,” or which content filters or third-party services the district will use.

Fundraising policy adopted
Burke said the board adopted a fundraising policy that had been placed on hold at a prior meeting. The policy, she said, is the result of about a year of work with stakeholders and will allow the district to develop administrative policies and regulations governing fundraising practices. The transcript records adoption of the policy but does not provide the policy’s full text or the vote tally.

Public comment and program highlights
Burke summarized several public comments: a parent, Carmen Lafayette, urged better services for her neurodivergent student; Brenda Jarvis asked the district to restrict or remove YouTube from student iPads; Scott Breeze highlighted the district’s robotics programs and asked that they receive recognition comparable to athletics; Melissa Barnes Delacchia, identified as principal of Bend International School, advocated for the school’s upcoming five-year contract; and Summit High School student Cassie Oates urged preservation of choir options amid proposed cuts. The transcript records the content of these public comments but does not include formal responses or outcome decisions tied directly to each request.

Routine business and reports
The consent agenda, which included approval of minutes, personnel recommendations and adoptions, was approved, Burke said. Informational consent items included administrative policies and regulations and the executive limitation report for transportation (Executive Limitation 4.5). Dr. Cook delivered a superintendent’s report covering seven items including DECA successes, a mosaic unveiling scheduled for May 21 and upcoming graduations. Directors offered brief comments about school successes, notably in robotics and DECA, as the school year concludes.

The meeting was adjourned at about 7:40 p.m. The budget draft approved by the committee now advances to the full board for a hearing and subsequent vote; no final board action on the budget was recorded in the transcript.