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Stanwood-Camano board hears budget squeeze, staff outlines $2.5M in proposed reductions
Summary
District finance staff told the board the district faces structural funding pressure and projected a potential $4.0 million general-fund shortfall for 2026'27; staff recommended using $1.5 million in reserves and pursuing roughly $2.5 million in reductions, with a focus on minimizing classroom impacts.
The Stanwood-Camano School Board was presented with budget projections March 17 that show structural pressure on the district's general fund and a plan that would use $1.5 million in reserves and $2.5 million in proposed reductions for the 2026'27 year.
Ruth Floyd, introduced by staff as the district's business services lead for the presentation, said the district projects a general-fund impact of about $4,000,000 next year after factoring enrollment declines, salary and benefit increases, and other cost pressures. "Net changes after all is said and done, we have a decrease in revenues, we have an increase in expenditures, total, general fund impact to, about $4,000,000," she said.
The staff recommended Model A, which would draw $1.5 million from fund balance and require approximately $2.5 million in reductions. Model B, which would avoid using reserves, would require roughly $4 million in cuts and was described as a scenario likely to force deeper layoffs and program eliminations.
Board members and administrators emphasized protecting direct classroom instruction where possible. Director comments flagged the effect of repeated reductions on course offerings and extracurriculars. One director summarized the tension: finding reductions that preserve student-facing programs while maintaining a sustainable reserve.
Staff outlined candidate reductions that could include a mix of certificated and classified positions, reduced stipends for activities, and constrained elective offerings at secondary schools. Human-resources staff said the district has historically absorbed many reductions through retirements and resignations but that the draft plan's scale (the presentation illustrated potential additional reductions of about 10 certificated FTE and substantial classified-hours cuts under the deeper scenario) would likely exceed attrition alone.
Board members encouraged continued engagement with students, ASB leaders and principals before finalizing cuts. Staff said a firmer list of reductions and formal recommendations would appear in April and May as enrollment and legislative information become clearer.
There was no formal vote; board discussion signaled a tentative consensus for the staff'recommended Model A, with a plan to return with specifics and options for community input.
