Battleground trustees outline $6M in proposed restorations after $20M cuts; counselors, nurses and SROs prioritized

Superintendent Denny Waters told the Battle Ground School District Board of Directors on May 27 that the district plans to restore about $6 million of previously proposed cuts after voters rejected the district levy, but stressed most reductions—about 72%—would remain.

Waters said the district would use fund balance to restore roughly $6 million this year and another $6 million for the following year, calling the package “bittersweet” and warning the district would face deeper reductions if a levy does not pass next year. “All of these cuts hurt us as an organization and hurt our ability and impact negatively our ability to provide quality services to students,” Waters said.

The administration presented a prioritized list of positions and programs it recommends restoring to protect student safety and well-being. The top items were school counselors; two school resource officers (SROs), one funded in partnership with the county at each comprehensive high school; most campus security positions for K–8; four licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and a nurse supervisor; five certificated teachers to address capacity and class-size concerns; one…