Douglas County schools report higher graduation rates but warn of federal budget cuts

Glenn Eastwood, newly elected chairman of the Douglas County Board of Education, gave attendees an update on district performance, student demographics and budgetary challenges.

Eastwood said the district's graduation rate has risen from about 77% a decade ago to over 90% today and that the district hopes to reach 91–92% this year. He noted challenges that affect outcomes, including roughly 200 students identified as homeless and 44 languages spoken in county schools, which require translation and student‑support services.

On transportation and student travel, Eastwood described use of a previously approved 1‑cent local sales tax for transportation and building needs and defended purchases of charter buses for extracurricular and athletic travel, saying the buses improved safety and reliability.

Eastwood warned the district faces a $14 million federal funding cut this year. "The federal government cut $14 million from us this year," he said, and added that the board will review budgets and use reserves where possible to protect classroom services and student programs.

He also addressed bullying concerns and said some matters could not be discussed publicly because of pending juvenile litigation, while reaffirming district anti‑bullying policies and the need for adults to intervene.

Eastwood said the district keeps about three years of reserves and is evaluating budget adjustments to absorb the federal reduction without harming essential services; he encouraged parents to engage with schools and the board on questions and concerns.