School District faces $1.8M budget reduction amid falling enrollment

The Forest Grove School District 15 held a budget and school board meeting on April 25, 2025, to address significant financial challenges facing the district. The primary focus of the meeting was the need to reduce the budget by approximately $1.8 million due to declining enrollment and associated funding shortfalls.

The district's leadership emphasized the importance of making thoughtful reductions while prioritizing resources that directly benefit students. With staffing being the largest expense, discussions included the potential impact on positions within the district. The administration is considering whether to fill existing vacancies as part of their budgetary review process. They expressed a commitment to minimizing the impact on both current staff and students, highlighting the careful financial stewardship provided by the fiscal department.

Current enrollment figures reveal that the district is about 137 students below budgeted expectations, which translates to a loss of over one million dollars in expected state funding for the upcoming year. This decline in enrollment is a critical factor in the budget discussions, prompting the district to engage the community for feedback and input during the budgeting process.

The meeting also announced three upcoming budget meetings in May, inviting community members to participate and review the budget book once it becomes available. The district aims to navigate these financial challenges with a strategic approach, hoping for a smooth transition rather than drastic measures seen in neighboring districts, such as midyear furloughs.

In conclusion, the Forest Grove School District is actively working through a challenging budget process, focusing on maintaining educational quality while addressing necessary financial reductions. The administration remains committed to transparency and community involvement as they move forward.