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 communications specialist; and limited crossing-guard coverage at seven locations.

CFO Michelle Scott said updated revenue estimates and legislative aid reduced the required cuts from an initial $20.1 million to a $14 million reduction, leaving a projected ending fund balance of about $16.6 million. Scott said the district will use fund balance to cover restorations and that, with the restorations proposed, the district’s financial health score would place it in a state “financial warning” status and could move into oversight if future levies fail. “With these financial outcomes we will be in financial warning,” she said.

School and operations staff laid out safety and service consequences of deeper cuts. The district reported more than 400 student suicide‑ideation questionnaires this year and 42,000 health-room visits; presenters said those figures supported restoring counselors and nursing positions. The administration noted there were 130 days this year with only one nurse available across 19 schools and 75 days with two nurses absent districtwide.

High‑school leaders and staff described how deans of students, campus security and SROs function in prevention and relationship‑building, not only discipline. Prairie High School principal Heather Ichimura said the dean position “triages so many things and routes so many students to all of the other people that we’re talking about.” Jamal McKenzie, dean of students at Battle Ground High School, described the role as a hub that connects students and families to counselors, prevention specialists and SROs.

Board members provided policy guidance and asked staff to seek ways to stretch limited dollars. Directors expressed particular support for restoring counselors and for keeping mental‑health and nursing coverage. Several directors urged administration to explore partnerships, volunteer efforts and community‑education options if necessary for lower‑cost alternatives for activities such as middle‑school athletics.

Public commenters including teachers and parents urged restoring counselors, nurses and the SROs and defended alternative‑education programs and staff roles. Michael Siren, a teacher at Battleground Virtual Academy (BGVA), warned losing on‑site leadership would harm the program’s recent growth and compliance work. “If we lose his leadership now, we risk not only losing our momentum but undoing everything that has been built,” Siren said of BGVA’s principal, Matt Stanfield.

The board did not vote on restorations at the meeting; trustees provided direction for staff to refine options and to return with budget decisions for formal approval. Administration said final personnel actions would follow after the board’s direction and noted state timelines and contractual obligations for RIF notices and assignments.

The district emphasized the restorations are conditional on using fund balance for two years and on passing a future levy to sustain restorations beyond that window. Waters said that without a successful levy next year the district could face another $20–$25 million of cuts.

Looking ahead, administration said it will return to the board with a final budget package and with details on which positions and programs will be reinstated, as well as contingency plans tied to levy outcomes.

Ending: Board members asked staff to continue outreach to the public about the fiscal outlook and to bring back a finalized restoration plan at a future meeting for formal action.