Mercer Island school leaders, legislators press for funding fixes as enrollment drops

Mercer Island School District officials and area legislators met to press the case for preserving school funding as enrollment falls and cost pressures rise.

Director Christina Martinez and district staff warned that statewide enrollment has fallen "about 8,000 students," which they said translates into "about a $100,000,000" decrease in state funding. Board members said levies and bonds remain essential to cover capital projects and enrichment programs, but recent bond efforts have struggled and levies alone cannot fully modernize aging facilities.

A legislator at the meeting outlined an appropriations strategy to "hold the same" per‑district apportionment used during the pandemic as a temporary measure while lawmakers negotiate prototype funding changes. "We will negotiate with the senate, and we will try to sell it big time," the legislator said, describing efforts to prevent cuts while long‑term funding models are revisited.

District leaders also highlighted teacher compensation and the experience factor. They reported Mercer Island’s average teacher salary at approximately $155,000 versus a state‑funded average cited near $127,000 and said an updated experience factor (targeted for 2027–28) could partially address the gap. "As we get into recalculating the experience factor...that would provide some additional funding," a superintendent said.

Officials urged better public communication about funding needs, referencing a consultant poll showing voter support rose from roughly 57% to 68% as constituents learned district needs in more detail. Board members said maintaining levies while pursuing state relief will be crucial to avoid cutting programs and course offerings that affect graduation pathways.

Next steps: legislators at the meeting said they will carry the hold‑harmless idea into budget negotiations and continue conversations with the superintendent and school board about targeted relief options.