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Budget and Staffing Update

February 13, 2024

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Budget and Staffing Presentation Purpose

The purpose of this presentation to identify potential reductions in staff, programs, and services, totaling $3,000,000, ensuring fiscal responsibility and sustainability while minimizing the impact on education quality. This is part of our yearly budget process.

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Communicating transparently to all stakeholders about the reasons for the necessary reductions and the steps being taken to preserve the quality of education remains a priority. We believe providing reassurance that the district is prioritizing student needs and maintaining a commitment to educational excellence is crucial.

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  • January 9 - Budget & staffing update, board input on budget priorities and community survey
  • January 23 - Board presentation of survey results, and plan for reductions of program and staff reductions for round 1 of budget adjustments
  • February 13 - Present refined list of reductions for services, contracts and operating costs, draft of staffing adjustments
  • March 12* - Board reviews draft of: Modified Educational Program resolution
  • March & April - Legislative session wraps up, bargaining updates, and potential for round 2 of budget adjustments if needed
  • April 23 - Board action on Modified Educational Program resolution

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Budget Development Timeline

*Edit note: Date corrected on 2-15-2024

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Impacts of the Current Funding Model

$3 Million shortfall

  • Four primary factors for our projected budget shortfall
    • State underfunds education
    • Declining enrollment
    • Levy rollback of $700,000
    • Inflation in costs

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State Underfunds �Education

  • State funding does not cover:
    • Special Education
    • Substitute costs
    • Insurance costs
    • School employee health benefits
    • Transportation operation costs
    • Certificated teachers & staff not fully funded

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Declining Enrollment

  • Enrollment is the primary driver of our funding, and our enrollment has been declining
    • Lower birth rate
    • Aging population
    • Every kindergarten cohort is smaller than the graduating 12th graders
  • Fewer students = fewer staff
  • Trend is expected to continue for several more years, then should be offset by growth

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Inflation in Costs

  • Inflation is increasing the cost of running an excellent school district
    • Insurance
    • Fuel
    • Utilities
    • Required employee health benefits
    • Staffing costs
    • Food for student meals

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Levy Rollback - $700k

  • Voters approved $9.5 million in April 2023
  • Per pupil cap limits how much we can collect
  • $700k will not be collected in tax year 2024

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Budget and Staffing Information

Current Year Adjustments and Next Year Planning

Current Year “Real Time” (2023-24)

  • Building budget reduction
  • Hiring freeze
  • Administrative compensation concessions (less �than IPD)
  • Decisions regarding open positions, staffing

reductions and mitigating substitute costs

  • Resource review (e.g. personal services �contracts, travel, workshops, materials)
  • Legislative advocacy �

Budget Planning for Next Year (2024-25)

  • Enrollment Forecasting (birth rate, student roll-up & historical attrition)
  • Initial staffing allocation conversations with building administrators based on enrollment 2024-25 forecasting
  • Round 1 Budget right-sizing adjustments (including attrition) $3 Million in reductions
  • Round 2 (After legislative decisions, inflation, bargaining, updated enrollment projection, 2023-24 spending)

Fall 2018

Fall 2023

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HOW DO WE AVOID THIS?

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2023-24: In-time reductions

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2024-25: Significant additional reductions

  • Round 1 $3M
  • Round 2 $??

**2023-24 through 2026-27 is budgeted ending Fund Balance adjusted to reflect the gap in the beginning Fund Balance in 23-24 school year.

6% Minimum Fund Balance

5 yr Average - 10.4%

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Washougal School District Community Budget Priorities Survey

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Survey Process to Gather Feedback

  • Survey launched January 10 after board review
  • Sent to 3,000 district families and 500 staff
  • Posted to social media, website, and shared with local media via press release

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Around 750 responses

  • 60% are parents, 35% staff, 30% community members, 5% students
  • About half of survey responses include free-form comments

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This is what we heard

  • Reduce more from administrative and district office support
  • Reduce more from contracts, services, travel and professional development
  • Reduce less in certificated staff
  • Reduce less in classified staff
  • Consider program reductions and office consolidations
  • Maintain student experiences including activities and athletics

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Round 1 Reduction Summary

Admin Pay, Support & Staff Reductions

10.4%

Certified

Staff

Reductions

6.4%

Classified

Staff

Reductions

5.3%

Contracts, utilities, and other expense reduction

2.8%

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Admin Pay, Support & Staff Reductions

10.4%

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Certified

Staff

Reductions

6.4%

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Classified

Staff

Reductions

5.3%

Contracts, utilities, and other expense reduction

2.8%

Admin Pay, Support & Staff Reductions�Total Expenditure: $4.6M

Reduction:

10.4%

Eliminate Assistant Superintendent for HR & Student Services

$236,277

Reduce District Custodial Manager

$49,554

Reduce ESD Communications Manager

$45,000

Superintendent, Directors, Supervisors Pay Freeze

$77,651

Superintendent, Directors, Supervisors Pay Cut

$43,878

Reduce board travel & professional development (WSSDA conferences)

$7,200

Reduce professional memberships

$14,760

Reduce Superintendent vacation benefit, travel and training

$9,306

Administrative Pay, Support & Staff Reductions

$484k

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Certified Staff Reductions

Total Expenditure: $25.7M

Reduction:

6.4%

4.6 Supervisory TOSAs* (Instructional, Library/Media, Student Support, ELL, Career Specialist)

$484,490

6.8 Secondary Certified Staff �(fewer students = fewer teachers)

$716,203

4.2 Elementary Certified Staff �(fewer students = fewer teachers)

$442,361

Certified Staff Reductions

$1.6 million

Admin Pay, Support & Staff Reductions

10.4%

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Certified

Staff

Reductions

6.4%

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Classified

Staff

Reductions

5.3%

Contracts, utilities, and other expense reduction

2.8%

* TOSA = Teacher on Special Assignment

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Classified Staff Reductions

Total Expenditure: $13.0M

Reduction:

5.3%

2 Secretarial reductions due to office consolidation

$108,882

1 Attendance Coordinator

$81,993

1 Transportation Staff

$108,944

1 Custodial Staff

$54,854

1 Security Staff

$64,000

1 Culinary Services Staff

$38,866

1 Technology Staff

$76,068

Suspend Community Ed. preschool & reduce HiCap admin support)

$127,539

District Office Clerical Pay Freeze

$33,366

Classified Staff Reductions

$694k

Admin Pay, Support & Staff Reductions

10.4%

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Certified

Staff

Reductions

6.4%

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Classified

Staff

Reductions

5.3%

Contracts, utilities, and other expense reduction

2.8%

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Other category reductions

Total Expenditure: $7.4M

Reduction:

2.8%

Avid Contract, PLC@work contract, and EduClimber

$139,000

Employee Assistance program, weather forecasting

$10,625

Defer turf set-aside

$50,000

Reduce community newsletters

$8,000

Reduce Travel

TBD

Reduce professional development

TBD

Other Category Reductions

$208k

Admin Pay, Support & Staff Reductions

10.4%

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Certified

Staff

Reductions

6.4%

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Classified

Staff

Reductions

5.3%

Contracts, utilities, and other expense reduction

2.8%

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Program Suspension/Reorganizations

Program Suspension or Reorganization

Amount

Suspend community education preschool�(staff changes are in classified list)

$105,000

Suspend Dual Language expansion �(no kindergarten in 24-25)

Not hiring position

Reduce WLA instructional support �(staff changes are in cert list)

$52,662

Reduce Highly Capable administrative support (staff changes in classified list)

$22,539

Reduction costs are included in categories for their staff type

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WSD Community Feedback

�In-person opportunities

  • Third Board Listening Tour April 9, 3-4:30 PM at Excelsior
  • Third Superintendent Roundtable March 19, 6:00 to 7:30 PM at DO

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WSD Board of Directors’ 2024 Legislative Priorities

Washougal School District advocates that the legislature should prioritize the following:

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Fully Fund Special Education

  • Invest fully in mandatory services for eligible students
  • Remove the artificial cap
  • Recognize that costs vary for every district based on the uniqueness of each student

Update Staffing Allocation

  • Teacher reimbursement is $21,000 short per teacher
  • State now pays for about 50% of necessary classified staff
  • State only pays 15% of the cost for substitutes

Provide Funding Required to Transport Every Child to and from School

  • WSD is underfunded according to current formula by $200,000
  • Update the funding model

Recognize and Provide for the Gap in Inflated Costs

  • Insurance
  • Fuel
  • Utilities
  • Employee health benefits

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Questions?