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Superintendent warns of $1.8 million fund-balance shortfall, outlines plans to address declining test scores
Summary
Dr. Torres Morales told the Vancouver School District board the 2025–26 fund balance was $1.8 million less than budgeted and flagged a 'fund balance watch' and possible binding conditions with the state; the superintendent also cited declines in state assessment proficiency and announced community engagement and school visits ahead of an August 11 budget hearing.
The Vancouver School District superintendent told the board the district is on a "fund balance watch" after the 2025–26 fund balance came in $1,800,000 less than budgeted and that enrollment also fell this past school year.
"The 2526 fund balance was $1,800,000 less than what we budgeted at the beginning," Dr. Torres Morales said, adding the district will continue to monitor finances and review "binding conditions" with the state if necessary as it closes out the fiscal year.
The superintendent said the district will discuss the budget and binding conditions more fully at a budget public hearing scheduled for August 11. She said the district is meeting with executive directors of teaching and learning and school leaders to examine grade-level standards mastery, and announced an "understanding and insights tour" and a commitment to visit every school in the district prior to Thanksgiving.
On academic outcomes, Dr. Torres Morales told the board the district has seen declines in students scoring at level 3 and 4 on the Smarter Balanced assessments since 2018–19: a 14% decline in English language arts, a 13% decline in math and a 5% decline in science. She said the district is conducting strategic work to address those regressions and will meet with school-level educators and leaders in August.
The superintendent framed the budget work as immediate and substantive: she said the district will be transparent with the community, is assessing enrollment and revenue projections, and will return to the board with further analysis at the August meeting. No formal board action on budget reductions or new revenue sources was taken at this meeting.
The president thanked Dr. Torres Morales for the report and the board then moved on to public comment.
