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Scott Ward: Enrollment decline cost district about $39.4 million; recommends pausing recurring raises
Summary
District presenter Scott Ward told bargaining members the district has lost about 2,317 students since 2023–24 and faces a roughly $39.4 million cumulative revenue drop over three years; he urged holding off on recurring pay increases until official FTE counts are finalized.
Scott Ward, the district presenter, told the LCEA–LCS bargaining session on July 21 that the district’s fund balance has fallen sharply and that declining enrollment is the principal driver.
"The 3 year impact due to declining enrollment is $39,400,000," Ward said, laying out year‑by‑year declines that included a 624‑student loss in 2024–25 (about $5.4 million) and projected further drops that together reduced current‑year revenues by roughly $20.8 million. He showed fund‑balance ratios and urged caution: at a 4% ratio the district would be below board policy and at 3% it would hit the state threshold that triggers an emergency declaration to the state education department.
Ward told negotiators the district lacks the recurring revenue needed to finance new ongoing salary commitments. "I recommend that we hold on on anything other than the required TSIA portion that we have to do by statute this month," he said, explaining the district’s low tolerance for risk given reserve levels.
Union negotiators said the presentation helped explain why earlier sessions felt data‑poor; they asked for follow‑up details on positions cut since 2023 and three‑year cumulative savings so members can weigh tradeoffs. Ward agreed to provide the requested breakdowns and additional reconciliation figures before the parties reconvene.
