High school student leaders present 2025–26 ASB budgets, stress inclusion and impacts of state policy

Student leaders from Sequoia, Cascade, Jackson and Everett high schools presented their 2025–26 Associated Student Body budgets to the Everett Public Schools board on May 13, outlining planned revenues, expenditures, fund balances and student‑led activities.

The presentations emphasized inclusion and lowering economic barriers to participation: multiple schools said they had reduced or eliminated ASB card requirements or made dances and events low‑cost or free so more students can attend. Several student leaders and advisors also described how House Bill 1660, which provides free school lunch and makes ASB cards available free to qualifying students, has reduced ASB revenues while increasing event participation.

Sequoia ASB leaders said the school intentionally has “no budget for ASB cards because we feel ASB cards are a barrier to our students” (Genevieve, Sequoia senior class president). Sequoia students described a larger share of spending toward clubs and accessible events such as a first‑ever silent disco funded with a DEI grant.

Cascade’s student presenters gave numbers for their 2025–26 proposal: a beginning fund balance of $251,045, projected revenues of $815,325 and total available resources of $1,066,370; planned expenditures were about $887,200, leaving an estimated ending fund balance near $179,000. Cascade ASB president Gabriel Doolin summarized how House Bill 1660 changed revenues and attendance: “It has impacted our revenue… it provides for students to get lunch for free, get an ASB card for free, and for them to come to some of our events for free, which is really good and it really improves inclusion.”

Jackson High School reported larger figures: a beginning fund balance of $230,627, projected revenues of $1,279,241 and total available resources near $1.5 million; their projected ending fund balance was about $240,613. Jackson leaders said clubs account for the majority of revenue and that the school supports more than 70 clubs, which officials described as a major driver of student engagement.

Everett High School presented a beginning fund balance of $155,292 and projected revenues of $985,242, with a total available resource pool near $1.14 million. Students described fundraising events, community service work and plans to broaden club‑led programming and accessibility.

Across the schools, student officers told the board they had adjusted budgeting practices to spend down reserves on student experience and to support club and athletics needs. Several schools reported growing numbers of new clubs and increased spending on travel and competition entry fees as clubs and teams attend state and national competitions.

Board members praised the student presenters and asked operational questions about fundraising, ASB card outreach and the budget development process. The budget presentations were informational; the board recorded no formal vote on the school budgets during the May 13 meeting.