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Kent School District projects multi‑year deficits, flags special‑education shortfall
Summary
District finance staff told the school board a flat post‑pandemic enrollment and rising staffing costs leave a projected $6.7 million deficit for 2025‑26 that grows in later years, driven largely by special education and unsustained federal grants.
The Kent School District’s finance team told the board on Wednesday that the district faces a growing structural deficit driven by flat enrollment, rising staff costs and the end of federal ESSER funding.
Raul Parenko, the district’s executive director of finance, presented a forecast showing a $6.7 million gap for 2025‑26 that expands in subsequent years if no changes are made. “Our enrollment has declined by about 8.7% or about 2,308 students over the last 10 years,” Parenko said, and he emphasized enrollment drives the largest share of state funding.
Why it matters: state general‑purpose dollars are roughly 55% of the district’s general fund revenue and are enrollment‑driven, Parenko said. That…
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