Bellevue School District approves apportionment advance as superintendent outlines $20 million spending‑reduction plan

The Bellevue School District Board on Feb. 6 approved Resolution 2025-02 authorizing the district to seek an apportionment advance from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to help cover a projected June cash shortfall, while Superintendent Dr. Kelly Aramaki presented a plan to reduce district spending by $20,000,000 for the 2025–26 school year.

The apportionment request would ask OSPI for up to 10% of the district’s Basic Education apportionment (approximately $21,000,000), with the district’s staff saying the actual request will match the projected cash‑flow shortage of about $15,000,000–$17,000,000. The board voted to approve the resolution; the motion carried with no recorded opposition.

The spending‑reduction proposal Dr. Aramaki presented includes three primary buckets: cuts to central office staffing and leadership, reductions in programs funded by expiring ESSER federal grants, and staff reductions at school buildings. “Tonight I’m gonna be presenting to the school board my spending reduction plan proposal for next year,” Dr. Aramaki said. She described the financial situation as “devastating” and said the district’s reserve balance has fallen below the board’s 5% target.

Why this matters: without action the district projects it will run out of available cash in June, creating the risk of ending the fiscal year with a negative fund balance and possible placement on OSPI’s binding‑conditions list. In that status, state oversight can limit district decision‑making.

Key points of the plan and cash management steps - Apportionment advance: Staff explained the advance smooths monthly cash flow by shifting a portion of the July/August apportionments to earlier months; the district will request the amount needed to avoid a negative balance in June. Jason Golick, executive director for business services, confirmed the mechanics of the advance during board discussion. - Overall target: Dr. Aramaki proposed reducing roughly $20,000,000 in expenditures for 2025–26, counting approximately $6,000,000 in cuts already implemented this year and about $14,000,000 more needed next year. - Central office: Proposed elimination of 40–50 central office positions (administrators, certificated central staff and operations) estimated to save $5–7 million. The superintendent said she would not replace some deputy roles and would absorb additional duties herself to reduce leadership costs. - ESSER‑funded programs: The district plans to scale back or eliminate several programs paid for by ESSER federal funds that are not supported by ongoing revenue. That includes reducing the district’s Mental Health Assistance Team from about 20 counselors to keeping 3–4 positions, scaling back family engagement specialists, eliminating the Summit program for students with severe anxiety, and cutting tutoring by roughly half. The superintendent called in‑district clinical mental health services “one of the most innovative things we have ever done,” and said the cuts represent a major change in delivery. - School staffing: To reach the target, the proposal includes reductions of approximately 70–100 school‑based positions (an average of about 2–3 staff per building), with specific plans to reduce 12–16 elementary assistant principal positions (preserving APs at schools over 700 students and Title I schools to the extent possible), 10–15 elementary teachers and 20–25 secondary teachers by tightening staffing to contractual class‑size targets, and consolidating certain non‑classroom certificated caseloads.

Community input and process Dr. Aramaki said the plan was shaped by extensive community engagement in January — listening sessions, school visits, staff focus groups and a survey — and that the district will enter a one‑month comment period before the board votes on a final plan on March 13. She described a March 6 board meeting dedicated to public comment on the reductions, followed by a refined proposal on March 10 and a board vote March 13.

Board members and staff emphasized the district’s priority to minimize impacts on students and student‑facing services where possible. Dr. Aramaki listed items not included in proposed cuts: the seven‑period day, athletics and activities, elementary specialists (library, art, music, PE), full‑time elementary counselors and graduation success coaches. She said restoring any reduced services would be a top priority if the state provides additional funding.

Budget drivers and legislative context The superintendent and board described a mix of statewide and local drivers for the shortfall: a reduced share of the state budget going to K‑12 over time, higher operating costs and inflation, limits on local levy capacity following the McCleary reforms, the end of ESSER federal funding, declining enrollment since COVID and prior budgeting shortfalls. Dr. Aramaki said the district is watching several bills in the 2025 legislative session that could affect special education, MSOCs (materials, supplies and operating costs), transportation and levy law; she urged the community to follow the session.

Formal action recorded Resolution 2025-02, Apportionment Advance: motion to approve authorization for the district to petition OSPI for an apportionment advance (up to 10% of Basic Education apportionment; staff stated actual request will match projected $15–17 million June shortage). Motion: moved and seconded on the record; vote: board members present voted in favor with no recorded opposition; outcome: approved.

What’s next The superintendent will publish a written report and a letter to the community describing the proposal. The district will accept public comment through March, hold a dedicated public meeting March 6, and present any revisions March 10 before the board’s March 13 vote on final reductions.