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Seattle schools face large budget shortfall; superintendent urges 'put schools first' reallocation and vacancy strategy
Summary
Superintendent Scholdner told the board the district faces a multi‑year structural shortfall (staff discussed an $87M figure if no changes are made); he proposed prioritizing school funding, harvesting vacant positions, reviewing facilities and considering a multi‑year remediation plan while urging caution about layoffs.
Board members continued the meeting with the second part of a scheduled budget study session, where district leadership described a significant projected shortfall and outlined initial strategies to reduce it without immediate mass layoffs.
Superintendent Scholdner described early findings after school visits and a review of budget structure. "We are in a lot of trouble," he said, citing broad deficit figures discussed in the presentation and among staff. He urged a budgeting approach that funds schools first and then allocates remaining funds to central offices. "Build what we have that we need for schools, and then what's ever left is what comes to this office," he said.
Staff cited a current district fund balance of about $97 million and…
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