Leavenworth USD 453 confronts $2.5 million FY27 shortfall; board weighs closing an elementary and listing Nettie Hartnett property
Summary
Superintendent Kellen told the board the district faces an estimated $2.5 million gap for fiscal 2027 after a 140-student enrollment decline; staff proposed exploring closure of one elementary (estimated savings $1.2'$1.5 million) and agreed to list the Nettie Hartnett property instead of reserving a parcel for a future program.
Superintendent Kellen told the Leavenworth Unified School District (USD 453) board on Nov. 10 that the district faces an approximate $2.5 million budget shortfall for fiscal 2027 driven primarily by an enrollment decline of roughly 140 students.
Kellen said the district has already cut about $5 million last year and that the current shortfall includes rising operating costs such as insurance and utilities and increased compensation pressures. "All in, $2,500,000 is what you've gotta find," he said, urging trustees to consider deeper options than the "cutting around the edges" that had occurred in prior years.
Why it matters: The district's enrollment decline reduces state funding tied to student counts and forces choices between recurring operational savings and one-time revenue. Administrators said closing an elementary could reduce the district's operational footprint and yield $1.2'$1.5 million in annual savings from lower utilities, insurance and duplicated staffing costs.
Board discussion and next steps: Kellen said an enrollment study, commissioned by the district and due in January, will inform any boundary or closure decisions. He said the district would use that study to determine which building(s) could be closed and to plan student reassignments and staffing transfers; he emphasized he did not expect layoffs if closures proceed, saying many staff could be reassigned.
Several trustees asked for specifics about timing and possible redistricting costs. "When you close a building, you reduce by default your operational footprint," Kellen said, adding that closing an elementary as early as the 2026 school year or as late as 2027 would affect savings timelines.
Nettie Hartnett property: Separately, the board discussed whether to replat a corner of the Nettie Hartnett Education Center to hold land for a proposed Quest program site. After staff said replatting would cost about $5,000 and that the district could retain flexibility, the board coalesced around a different approach. The consensus was to move forward with listing the Nettie Hartnett property with the district's real estate agent rather than reserve the parcel, with administration noting more information will be available for interested buyers.
What remains unresolved: The board directed staff to bring the enrollment study when available in January and to return with cost estimates for redistricting, potential savings tied to particular buildings and options for repurposing or leasing vacated facilities. Trustees also asked staff to evaluate the operational costs per site and the feasibility of consolidating district offices or CTE programming into fewer rooftops to maximize savings.
The meeting record: The superintendent presented the FY27 projections and the board discussed options but made no formal decision on building closure at the Nov. 10 meeting. The enrollment study is expected in January and will be used to guide any formal action.
