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Lake Washington superintendent outlines $11 million spending cut target, warns of staffing and program impacts
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Holman told the Lake Washington School District board that the district must reduce expenditures by $11 million to balance a multi‑year budget while keeping reserves; she named programs and fees under review and said staffing reductions are likely.
Superintendent Dr. Mary Holman told the Lake Washington School District board on Jan. 13 that the district must identify $11,000,000 in recurring spending reductions to maintain an 8%–10% fund balance and produce a balanced budget for 2025–26.
Holman said the district’s fund‑balance policy target exceeds the state minimum: "The board's policy requirement for fund balance is 5% and that's almost $30,000,000 when you think of our $600,000,000 budget. And so our target is to keep it between that 45 to $52,000,000 mark." She warned that continued reliance on fund balance without cuts would exhaust reserves over time.
The nut graf: The budget shortfall and staffing consequences are immediate and tangible for Lake Washington schools, Holman said. The district faces enrollment declines at the elementary level of about 1,500–1,800 students and is preparing program and staffing changes to align expenditures with projected revenues.
In her report Holman listed program areas under review as part of the reduction process: the highly capable program, elementary band and orchestra pilots, athletic fee structure and ASB fee waivers, and central services. She said the district is analyzing implementation of a revised high school day and staffing models that govern certificated and administrative positions. "Our short term target is to reduce our expenditures by $11,000,000 and then maintain that into future years," Holman said.
Board members asked for clarity about timing and process. Holman said the district will solicit internal analysis now, notify impacted staff between now and May, and return a proposed budget to the board in June showing out‑year alignment and fund balance projections. She said the June presentation will function as a first reading of the 2025–26 budget and that formal monitoring would follow.
Several directors emphasized the human impact of cuts. Director Stewart suggested partnering with local universities to obtain third‑party evaluations of outreach and engagement programs; Director Guthrie and others urged monitoring that highlights program impact, not only activity counts. Holman acknowledged the difficulty: "When you go through these processes we know that that means that there are people that are working in Lake Washington today that won't be working here next year." She urged board and community advocacy at the state level while planning local reductions.
Votes at a glance (routine actions taken during the meeting): - Approve agenda: moved by Director Guthrie; seconded by Director Jochim; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approve consent agenda: moved by Director Laliberte; seconded by Director Stewart; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approve board summary for OE4 (personnel administration): moved by Director Liberty; seconded by Director Stewart; outcome: approved. - Approve board summary for OE5 (financial planning): moved by Director Guthrie; seconded by Director Liberty; outcome: approved.
Ending: Holman reiterated that the district is in a multi‑month process that includes internal review, community communications and statutory compliance for any changes. She said staff will aim to deliver monitoring data and revised language for board review before the end of the school year.
