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State funding changes shrink transition-to-kindergarten slots; district plans seven classrooms
Summary
District finance staff told the board that a state reduction in transition-to-kindergarten funding cut the local cap from 127 to 101 FTE, effectively reducing about two classrooms; the district plans to operate seven transition classrooms next year and will await potential reallocation of slots by the state.
Patty, the district finance lead, told the Long View School Board that legislative changes reduced the district’s transition-to-kindergarten funding cap from 127 student-FTE to 101 student-FTE, a shift the district analyzed as roughly equivalent to losing nearly two classrooms of capacity.
To preserve program access, the district said it will operate seven transition-to-kindergarten classrooms next year at the state class-size ratio (17:1). Patty said the district expects some opportunity for reallocation of slots after the state surveys districts (a survey is due June 1), and staff will re-evaluate next year.
Patty also explained changes to bus depreciation schedules adopted by the legislature: smaller buses’ depreciation moved from an 8-year to a 10-year cycle and larger buses from 13 to 15 years. That change delays depreciation funding timing and reduces the district’s anticipated depreciation apportionment for late 2025–26 by about $140,000, she said; the funds are expected to be paid over a longer timeframe, not eliminated.
Patty said the district had received some categorical allocations (learning assistance program and high-poverty funding) but was still awaiting federal categorical allocations (Title I, Title II, Title III and federal special-education allocations) and will finalize classified-staffing allocations once those funds are known. District leaders said certificated staffing allocations have already been communicated to principals.
Board members thanked finance staff and emphasized the importance of maintaining fund balance and cash flow as the state’s timing changes for apportionments can create temporary shortfalls.
