Shoreline School Board grants superintendent authority to implement reduced-education plan amid budget shortfall

The Shoreline School Board on May 6 voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 2025-8, giving Superintendent Reyes authority to implement a reduced educational program intended to help the district meet a projected $6.5 million budget reduction target.

The district presented the REP as a legal, budget-driven plan that authorizes targeted staffing and program reductions if needed to produce a balanced budget. Superintendent Reyes said the plan is part of a multi-year effort to rebuild the district’s unreserved fund balance and to avoid “binding conditions” under state oversight should the district fail to submit a positive budget.

Why it matters: The board and district staff said rising costs continue to outpace state revenue and that the district must submit a balanced budget by August. During the legislative session lawmakers passed what the district identified as House Bill 2049, which the district says gives many school districts authority to run a supplemental levy; Shoreline staff estimate a successful supplemental levy could yield roughly $3.8 million for the 2025–26 budget year and about $7.25 million across two budget years. Even with that potential revenue and estimated state increases for special education and material, supplies and operating costs (roughly $700,000 and $330,000, respectively, per district staff estimates), the district would still need roughly $1 million more than the proposed REP and levy combination to meet the $6.5 million target.

Details of the action and outlook: The resolution adopted by the board authorizes the superintendent to implement the REP; it does not itself terminate or reassign individual employees. Superintendent Reyes and district staff described the REP as an authorization that would allow reductions to be implemented later if revenues do not materialize or other budget scenarios change. The district said it will continue to refine projections, that staff affected by any REP implementation would be notified consistent with collective-bargaining timelines, and that the board expects to adopt a final budget in August after the district learns the outcome of the August supplemental levy and any gubernatorial action on the bill.

Public comment and board discussion: Dozens of community members, staff and union representatives addressed the board during the REP public comment period. Sage Wiltsie, identified as a staff member, warned against asking the community repeatedly for levy support and urged the board to “govern in such a way that we not only engage, inspire, and empower our students, but our staff and community.” Matt Reman, president of the Shoreline Education Association, urged the board to reject Resolution 2025-8 and said the district does not need to cut drug-and-alcohol counselor positions or other listed roles given recent state funding and potential levy revenue: “With the information you have now … it is clear that the district does not need to cut our drug and alcohol counselor positions nor the CESPA, SEIU and other staff positions listed in the REP,” Reman said.

Kokeel Johnson, a substance-prevention intervention counselor, read a student letter and urged the board not to eliminate counseling positions, saying those positions provide “a lifeline to students.” David Brown, a custodian at Shorewood High School and member of SEIU Local 925, said proposed cuts disproportionately affect frontline classified staff and urged the board to reject the REP.

Board members discussed the trade-offs at length, repeatedly noting uncertainty in state-level revenues and possible consequences if the district fails to submit a positive budget. Directors emphasized that the resolution provides authority — not immediate layoffs — and that the district prefers to implement changes collaboratively and, where possible, place affected staff in other district positions. Director Zoonigan moved the resolution; Director Cohen seconded. The board vote was unanimous to adopt Resolution 2025-8. Student representatives provided advisory votes (Representative Rohany abstained; Representative Inchincorlu recorded “nay”; Representative Eaton abstained), which the board accepted as advisory.

Next steps: District staff said they will provide an updated analysis on May 20 about legislative impacts and will continue developing budget projections; the formal budget adoption is expected in August after the district completes enrollment counts, refines projections and learns the outcome of the proposed supplemental levy and any gubernatorial actions on the bill.