Facing a $9 Million Budget Shortfall: Ideas for Moving Forward

In my last post, I introduced you to some of the real problems that I see facing our District. I’m sure you have questions about how I’m thinking about solutions so I wanted to take a deeper dive on each of those problems. Today, I’m tackling the upcoming $9 million budget shortfall. This kind of financial gap doesn’t just appear on a financial ledger, it substantively affects classrooms, educators, and, most importantly, students.

When I win in November, I will look forward to engaging with our expert educators and staff to develop a tenable plan that will not force us to compromise our values or diminish service to our students. I am confident we can find a path forward that prioritizes students while being fiscally responsible. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but these are some strategies that I’ve been mulling over.

Prioritize Essential Services

The first step in addressing a budget shortfall is defining what’s truly essential. Consistent with our Cultural Compass, classroom instruction, Special Education services, and safety should remain at the center of spending. Protecting these core areas ensures that students continue receiving a strong education even when resources are tight.

Review Non-Essential Spending

Not every program, expense, or service carries the same impact. Conducting a detailed audit (or reviewing the results of an existing audit) of contracts, administrative costs, and non-instructional spending can identify areas where we might trim back without directly hurting the classroom experience. Transparency in this process builds trust with the community.

Explore Shared Services and Efficiencies

Our Zone structure has enabled our district to be nimble, serve the unique needs in different regions of our community, and give decision-making authority to those who are closest to the challenges. However, that same structure can result in unnecessary redundant expenses. Other districts have found savings by sharing services like transportation, technology support, or maintenance contracts. Even modest efficiencies in areas like energy use, purchasing, and operations can add up over time. In addition, strategic partnerships with local municipalities, local businesses, or nearby districts could help reduce costs.

Seek Additional Funding Streams

While we can’t rely solely on uncertain state or federal funds, it’s worth exploring every opportunity for grants, partnerships, and alternative funding. Foundations and community organizations often support initiatives around technology, afterschool programs, or facilities improvements. Leveraging these partnerships can offset some district costs.

Building a Long-Term Plan

A shortfall of this size isn’t just a short-term challenge — it’s a wake-up call. I look forward to reviewing our multi-year financial plan to ensure we are anticipating rising costs and building reserves when possible. Clear, proactive planning will help us avoid repeating this cycle of emergency cuts.

Engage the Community in Solutions

The budget belongs to all of us. Parents, educators, and community members deserve a voice in how we address this shortfall. Open forums, surveys, and advisory groups can help generate ideas and foster understanding of the tough choices ahead. Community involvement makes difficult decisions easier to accept. These initiatives would have the compounding impact of helping our Board rebuild and sustain the community’s trust.

Moving Forward Together

A $9 million shortfall is daunting, but it’s also an opportunity to refocus on our values. By prioritizing what matters most and by working together with creativity and transparency, we can come through this challenge stronger.

Our kids’ future is worth the hard work it will take.