School districts shall establish the following funds in addition
to those provided elsewhere by law:
(1) A general fund for maintenance and operation of the
school district to account for all financial operations of the
school district except those required to be accounted for in
another fund.
(2) A capital projects fund shall be established for major
capital purposes. All statutory references to a "building fund"
shall mean the capital projects fund so established. Money to be
deposited into the capital projects fund shall include, but not
be limited to, bond proceeds, proceeds from excess levies
authorized by RCW 84.52.053, state apportionment proceeds as
authorized by RCW 28A.150.270, earnings from capital projects
fund investments as authorized by RCW 28A.320.310 and 28A.320.320, and state forest revenues transferred pursuant to
subsection (3) of this section.
Money derived from the sale of bonds, including interest
earnings thereof, may only be used for those purposes described
in RCW 28A.530.010, except that accrued interest paid for bonds
shall be deposited in the debt service fund.
Money to be deposited into the capital projects fund shall
include but not be limited to rental and lease proceeds as
authorized by RCW 28A.335.060, and proceeds from the sale of real
property as authorized by RCW 28A.335.130.
Money legally deposited into the capital projects fund from
other sources may be used for the purposes described in RCW 28A.530.010, and for the purposes of:
(a) Major renovation, including the replacement of
facilities and systems where periodical repairs are no longer
economical. Major renovation and replacement shall include, but
shall not be limited to, roofing, heating and ventilating
systems, floor covering, and electrical systems.
(b) Renovation and rehabilitation of playfields, athletic
fields, and other district real property.
(c) The conduct of preliminary energy audits and energy
audits of school district buildings. For the purpose of this
section:
(i) "Preliminary energy audits" means a determination of the
energy consumption characteristics of a building, including the
size, type, rate of energy consumption, and major energy using
systems of the building.
(ii) "Energy audit" means a survey of a building or complex
which identifies the type, size, energy use level, and major
energy using systems; which determines appropriate energy
conservation maintenance or operating procedures and assesses any
need for the acquisition and installation of energy conservation
measures, including solar energy and renewable resource measures.
(iii) "Energy capital improvement" means the installation,
or modification of the installation, of energy conservation
measures in a building which measures are primarily intended to
reduce energy consumption or allow the use of an alternative
energy source.
(d) Those energy capital improvements which are identified
as being cost-effective in the audits authorized by this section.
(e) Purchase or installation of additional major items of
equipment and furniture: PROVIDED, That vehicles shall not be
purchased with capital projects fund money.
(f)(i) Costs associated with implementing technology
systems, facilities, and projects, including acquiring hardware,
licensing software, and online applications and training related
to the installation of the foregoing. However, the software or
applications must be an integral part of the district's
technology systems, facilities, or projects.
(ii) Costs associated with the application and modernization
of technology systems for operations and instruction including,
but not limited to, the ongoing fees for online applications,
subscriptions, or software licenses, including upgrades and
incidental services, and ongoing training related to the
installation and integration of these products and services.
However, to the extent the funds are used for the purpose under
this subsection (2)(f)(ii), the school district shall transfer to
the district's general fund the portion of the capital projects
fund used for this purpose. The office of the superintendent of
public instruction shall develop accounting guidelines for these
transfers in accordance with internal revenue service
regulations.
(3) A debt service fund to provide for tax proceeds, other
revenues, and disbursements as authorized in chapter 39.44 RCW.
State forest land revenues that are deposited in a school
district's debt service fund pursuant to RCW 79.64.110 and to the
extent not necessary for payment of debt service on school
district bonds may be transferred by the school district into the
district's capital projects fund.
(4) An associated student body fund as authorized by RCW 28A.325.030.
(5) Advance refunding bond funds and refunded bond funds to
provide for the proceeds and disbursements as authorized in
chapter 39.53 RCW.
[2007 c 503 § 2; 2007 c 129 § 2; 2002 c 275 § 2; 1990 c 33 § 337; 1983 c 59 § 13; 1982 c 191 § 6; 1981 c 250 § 2. Formerly RCW 28A.58.441.]
NOTES:
Reviser's note: This section was amended by 2007 c 129 § 2 and by 2007 c 503 § 2, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Intent -- 2007 c 129: "The legislature recognizes that technology has become an integral part of the facilities and educational delivery systems in our schools. In order to prepare our state's students to participate fully in our state's economy, school districts are making substantial capital investments in their technology systems, facilities, and projects. Districts are implementing, applying, and modernizing their technology systems. Software companies are shifting from selling software as a one-time package to a license or an extended contractual relationship requiring a subscription and ongoing payments. School districts must be empowered to respond to the changing business models in the software industry and be given flexibility and authority to use capital projects funds to pay for licenses or online application fees. It is the intent of the legislature that these investments be deemed major capital purpose and are also permitted uses of the district's two to six-year levies authorized by RCW 84.52.053." [2007 c 129 § 1.]
Declaration -- 2002 c 275: "The legislature recognizes and acknowledges that technology has become an integral part of the facilities and educational delivery systems in our schools. In order to prepare our state's students to participate fully in our state's economy, substantial capital investments must continue to be made in our schools' comprehensive technology systems, facilities, and projects. These investments are declared to be a major capital purpose." [2002 c 275 § 1.]
Application -- Effective date -- Severability -- 1983 c 59: See notes following RCW 28A.505.010.
Severability -- 1982 c 191: See note following RCW 28A.335.210.
Effective date -- 1981 c 250: See note following RCW 28A.335.060.