Evergreen tells North Bend board it is financially stable, cites enrollment growth and retention challenges
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Summary
Evergreen, the virtual school sponsored by North Bend School District, reported financial reserves, staffing growth and rising enrollment but said roughly half of new students did not stay past their first year and that the school is pursuing strategies to improve retention.
Evergreen's executive director told the North Bend School Board on Jan. 2026 that the virtual school finished the year "financially stable with great reserves" and is seeing renewed enrollment growth while working to keep new students engaged.
The presentation, given after the board's opening business, outlined Evergreen's enrollment and staffing trends, academic supports and family engagement work. Jamie Stiles, identified in meeting materials as Evergreen's executive director, said the program ended the year with roughly 800 students, had grown staff from about 73 to over 80 employees, and reported an ending fund balance the presentation described as "over 1,000,000." Stiles said Evergreen has a full special education program and recently completed a second collective bargaining agreement with its teachers' union.
Why it matters: North Bend is the sponsoring district for Evergreen, so Evergreen's enrollment and financial posture affect district finances and student services. The presentation also highlighted program changes that could influence future budget planning and collaboration between the district and Evergreen.
Evergreen's presentation detailed attendance and retention data. Stiles said regular-attender metrics improved in recent years but that the program struggles to retain about half of newly enrolled students after their first year; the school is studying those cases as part of a strategic plan. Stiles described outreach and engagement steps, including online clubs, monthly in-person events across the state, and pilot strategies such as brief personalized video messages teachers send to students to boost connection.
Stiles also described academic work: implementation of common writing strategies across high-school courses, peer tutoring, and expanded career-and-technical education pathways under the district's sponsorship. The presentation noted family and staff survey results that rated supports and communication largely positive.
Board members asked about enrollment timelines and how Evergreen's funding flows through the sponsoring district; staff said state school fund dollars for Evergreen students flow through North Bend and the district then passes through a percentage (the presenters described a 94% passthrough for general students and 95% for special education students, subject to an 11% cap). Evergreen said it will continue work on retention and report back with more details if the board requests them.
The presentation closed with an offer to answer follow-up questions and provide more detailed slides to the board.