Renton School District proposes $15 million in reductions as enrollment and funding lag

The Renton School District on a public presentation explained why it must reduce spending for the 2025–26 school year, citing multi-year enrollment declines, the end of federal pandemic relief and limits from Washington’s post‑McCleary funding model.

"My name is Damien Pattenaude and I serve as the Superintendent of the Renton School District," Pattenaude said as he introduced the evening’s overview. Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Jennifer Farmer walked through the district budget structure, explaining that the general fund — which covers most salaries and day‑to‑day operations — comprises the focus of the discussion.

Farmer said the district’s revenue mix is primarily state allocations, local property‑tax levies and federal dollars, and that roughly 85% of general fund spending pays salaries and benefits. She reported total budgeted revenue for the current year of about $310 million and noted federal ESSER pandemic funds have been exhausted, removing a temporary revenue source.

Pattenaude and Farmer emphasized how enrollment affects funding: the state’s basic allocation is $11,450 per general‑education pupil, and the district projects a conservative 2% enrollment decline next year. They estimated that losing about 1,200 students would reduce revenue by roughly $13 million in current dollars.

Both officials criticized the state’s prototypical school model for allocating staff by formula; they said it funds too few administrators and certain specialists for a high‑cost region like King County. Farmer noted the model funds about "2.2 psychologists for the entire Renton School District," forcing the district to use local levy dollars for additional services.

Pattenaude listed several quantified shortfalls the district is covering with local funds: about $12 million in special education shortfalls, roughly $7 million for material, supplies and operating costs (MSOCs), $3.4 million for student transportation and $2.3 million for substitute coverage. He said those gaps, along with inflation and rising labor costs, have created persistent budget pressure.

To address a roughly $15–15.7 million reduction target for 2025–26 (Pattenaude said the district lowered the target to about $15 million anticipating additional state revenue), the district has already identified $9.34 million in reductions, primarily among central‑office and leadership positions. Proposed and implemented steps include eliminating most elementary assistant principal positions, reducing one middle‑school assistant principal at each middle school, pausing non‑student‑facing hires, ending select vendor contracts and transferring some central resources into school budgets.

Pattenaude said the district will implement non‑paid furlough days for senior leaders to share the burden: he will take 15 furlough days and cabinet members will take 10. He said the district’s priority is to make reductions in ways that minimize the impact on classroom instruction and student programs.

On advocacy, Pattenaude said board members and unions have jointly lobbied state legislators for additional funding, focusing on special education, MSOCs and transportation. He said there may be modest movement on special education funding this legislative session but little optimism for transportation funding, and that proposals to raise the local levy lid remain politically contentious.

Next steps include finalizing the remaining reductions by late March so affected staff have time to pursue other positions, a public hearing on the proposed budget planned for June 4 and a tentative board adoption on June 25 (the budget must be adopted by Aug. 31). Pattenaude said slides and the recording will be posted on the district website and invited public contact by email.

The district also confirmed a separate facilities project: construction of a new Renton High School on the existing site, retaining the historic front façade, with completion targeted around 2030.

The presentation made clear the district faces a multi‑year funding challenge tied to declining enrollment, statutory funding formulas and rising costs. The board has directed staff to target a 4% ending fund balance for 2025–26 with a staged restoration plan in future years.