The Vancouver Public Schools superintendent presented a budget‑centric report at the board’s regular meeting, saying the district faces a multiyear recurring deficit driven by declining enrollment, rising costs and underfunded special education obligations.

The report outlined five primary challenges: a recurring operating deficit the district has covered with reserves and one‑time federal relief; steady enrollment declines (the superintendent said incoming kindergarten cohorts are roughly 200 students smaller than earlier years); inflation that has outpaced state funding; rapidly rising non‑salary costs such as utilities and property/liability insurance; and underfunding of special education, which the superintendent said has grown from roughly $10 million to nearly $30 million in unfunded obligations.

Why it matters: the superintendent told the board that reserves and federal ESSER funds previously muted deficits but those sources are nearly exhausted and will not be available after the 2025–26 timeframe. That leaves the district facing choices about program reductions, staffing and reserves as it prepares a February budget proposal.

“We have a recurring budget deficit that has existed for a number of years,” the superintendent said, adding that staff pay and benefits account for about 85 percent of district spending. He also said the district has reduced about $34,000,000 in expenditures in recent budget cycles but still expects deficits once one‑time federal funding is spent.

Board members said they appreciated the clear breakdown of the drivers. Director Spruill called the funding gap “the biggest gut punch” in the presentation and urged continued advocacy at the state level, saying the shortfall is unlikely to be corrected in a single legislative session.

Public commenters addressed enrollment and policy issues that they said may be contributing to student departures. Jean Taylor, who identified herself as a Vancouver Public Schools community member, said some parents are withdrawing children from public schools over district and state policies related to gender identity and parental notification. “Many parents are choosing the most radical opt out they can. They’re removing their children from public education,” Taylor said.

Other commenters tied district operations and programs to classroom access and outcomes. A district teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing, Jeff (last name not specified), asked the board to adopt a standing accessibility practice for presentations and trainings so staff with disabilities would not have to request accommodations repeatedly. A Skyview High School student, Nicholas Farmer, told the board he found the number of Advanced Placement courses reduced this year and reported repeated elevator outages that limit access to second‑floor classrooms.

No formal budget motions were offered or voted on at the meeting. The superintendent and board members said staff will continue the public engagement and planning process ahead of formal budget decisions in February.