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Thurston County superintendents warn of persistent school budget shortfalls, press state for MSOC and special‑education funding
Summary
Eight district superintendents reported on enrollment, construction projects, program expansions and severe budget pressures at a March 19 Thurston County work session; recurring themes were rising MSOC costs, special‑education shortfalls and levy uncertainty.
Eight Thurston County school district superintendents briefed the county Board of County Commissioners on March 19 about facility projects, enrollment trends and ongoing budget shortfalls that are shaping district operations and services.
Superintendents told the board that funding gaps are driving program reductions, staff cuts and strategic planning across the county. Common themes included rising material, supplies and operating costs (MSOC), persistent underfunding for special education, transportation funding needs, and mixed results at the ballot box for local levies and bonds.
Highlights and district details presented to the board:
- North Thurston Public Schools (Superintendent Troy Oliver): Enrollment stabilized at about 14,500 after a pandemic decline. Districtsupported capital work includes a near‑rebuild of River Ridge High School, classroom additions at Camas (Camacho) Middle School, and a new family early‑learning center planned with local partners; the district relies on roughly $8 million annually in levy revenue to pay for services not fully funded by the state, notably special education.
- Rainier School District (Superintendent Brian Barr): Enrollment ~938 with a 15.9% special‑education population and a 95% on‑time graduation rate; the district listed financial stability as its main challenge and invited community support for a March 29 Rainier Education Foundation auction.
- Tumwater School District (Superintendent Kevin Bogartson): Reported a roughly $4.5 million operating deficit and sharply constrained cash balances; the district plans staffing reductions of nearly 60 positions and is managing a federal Title IX investigation related to transgender student‑athlete participation, a challenge the superintendent said staff are addressing through outreach to student groups, PFLAG and GSAs.
- Yelm (Superintendent Chris Woods): Failed a levy for the third time, requiring deep cuts and an ongoing strategic‑planning process; the district expects continued residential development in the city limits and anticipates enrollment growth from new housing in coming years.
- Griffin School District (Superintendent Kirsten Ruh): Smallest county district at about 595 students (up from 580 this year); passed both an EP&O and a capital levy in February and is pursuing energy‑efficient boiler replacement and other facility upgrades; strategic planning under way with an AI partner.
- Rochester School District (Superintendent Jennifer Bethman): Enrollment ~2,080, with decreased kindergarten/first‑grade cohorts and significant increases in utilities and insurance costs (insurance from $308,000 in 2020 to $712,000 in the most recent year); passed an EP&O levy but a bond failed at 50.53%.
- Olympia School District (Superintendent Patrick Murphy): Reported a 94.1% on‑time graduation rate; district emphasized special‑education funding shortfalls (a multimillion‑dollar gap funded from enrichment levies) and called attention to state MSOC per‑pupil shortfalls (district cited a local need of roughly $500 per pupil versus small state increases in recent budgets).
- Tenino School District (Superintendent Clint Anticott): Enrollment ~1,250, graduation rate at 93% and broad community partnerships supporting arts, FFA and career programs; district said it has kept staffing right‑sized but would prefer additional state revenue so enrichment levy funds are not used to backfill core service needs.
Commissioners and superintendents discussed coordinated outreach to the Legislature. The board directed staff to sign in support for two education bills moving through appropriations that the group identified as county priorities (MSOC and special‑education funding bills). Commissioners also discussed drafting a letter to legislators that highlights countywide education funding needs, including the decline in the share of the state budget allocated to K‑12 education over recent years.
Why it matters: superintendents said local levies and enrichment funding are increasingly relied on to cover core costs—special education, insurance and utilities—leaving districts vulnerable when local ballot measures fail. Commissioners said they will convey support to legislators and explore coordinated messages about MSOC, transportation and special‑education funding.
