March 4, 2024: Steps to address the 2024-25 Budget Shortfall

MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

March 4, 2024

Dear Northshore Colleagues: 

We anticipate that the Washington state legislative session will end as planned this Thursday, March 7. Many of our staff, labor partners, Board Directors, students, and community partners have been tirelessly advocating for our students. I am so grateful for their support and efforts. While we still hope to receive some additional funds for the 2024-25 school year, if any increases are realized they will be modest - an estimated 1 to 2 million dollars - and will not come close to addressing our systemic budget challenges. 

No matter the outcome of this session, I am committed to continuing to advocate for Northshore and our incredible community. Ample funding of education is the state’s paramount duty and one the state legislators are failing to fulfill. Our students, their families, and you - our staff - deserve so much better. 

As a life-long educator my heart is very heavy this week as we continue our phased reduction of programs, services, and positions for the 2024-25 school year. I am saddened by how this impacts our staff and wish there were other options available to us. I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone why we are facing another shortfall - following our budget reductions last year. 

• Declining student enrollment while we maintained or increased staffing levels over multiple years. Seventy-one percent of Northshore’s budget is paid for by the state based on student enrollment. Local taxes used for public education, referred to as levies, help make up the gap between what the state provides and what our students need. Since 2019-20, Northshore has seen a decline of 656 student FTE enrollment. The school-age student population in Washington is shrinking due to declining birth rates and more individuals moving out of the state than into it. This decrease of students is particularly evident in our kindergarten projections for 2024-25. Every 80 students is the equivalent of about $1 million. While we have decreased students and revenue, we have needed to maintain, and in some areas add staff to address our students’ needs. 
• District decisions regarding programming and operations in support of our students; 
• The state’s continued underfunding of public education, specifically special education and multilingual services. For example, in 2023-24, Northshore will spend an estimated $24 million of local levy funds to make up the gap between what the state provides for special education services and what our students need and are legally entitled to. The state also underfunds multilingual services by about $6 million annually. 
• State spending on public education hasn’t kept pace with inflation and the true costs associated with operating schools. Inflation has impacted fuel and energy prices, insurance, supplies and parts, food, etc. - all costs outside our control but that we must respond to. 

You can view the 2024-25 budget development one-pager for more detailed information about areas the state continues to underfund. 

Northshore is not alone in these challenges. All districts are struggling similarly, with a number unable to balance their budget and entering binding conditions for the next school year. This means the state and local Educational Service District will take a more active role in monitoring their district budgeting - taking away local control in response to community needs. We have been making hard sacrifices over the last two years to avoid a similar loss of local choice, and we are grateful to our labor partners who have worked with district staff to address our budget deficit. 

Next Steps: 

• Last Thursday, February 29, certificated, classified, and administrative allocations were sent to school leaders. These allocations happen annually based on projected enrollment and contract language and inform the development of master schedules for the following school year. School administration will be sharing high-level FTE allocations with staff. In all areas across the District there have been reductions to balance our budget for next year. ELD staffing will be provided to schools by March 8, with 1:1 para educator staffing provided by March 15. 
• The newly ratified NSEA, NEOPA, and NNRAP agreements will go before the School Board on March 11, 2024. The 4 p.m. regular School Board meeting will be public and live-streamed. You can find the live stream on the School Board webpage. There will also be a budget study session after the Board Meeting. 
• We continue to negotiate contracts with three additional labor partners. 

I have been and continue to be committed to transparency throughout our 2024-25 budget development process. You can learn more about the 2024-25 budget development process on the district website. As new information becomes available, it will be posted. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly at superintendent@nsd.org or contact Deputy Superintendent JoLynn Berge at jberge@nsd.org. 

In partnership,

Michael Tolley
Superintendent

HIGHLIGHTS FROM AROUND THE DISTRICT

Have a story you would like to see shared in the "Highlights from Around the District" section of this message and on our website? Submit using this form.

Maha Shivaratri celebrated March 8

Maha Shivaratri is the day in the Hindu tradition that is celebrated to honor Bhagawan Shiva, one of the three main forms of creator in addition to Bhagwan Vishnu and Bhagwan Brahma. Brahma is responsible for creation, Vishnu is responsible for sustaining, and Shiva is responsible for ending the cycle of creation. It is because of the three forms of the Supreme Brahman that the entire universe functions smoothly. Also, Shiva controls bad elements from disturbing the peace in the universe. On this day, Hindu families that choose to celebrate fast all day and night and honor Bhagwan Shiva by performing a series of rituals all night long.

Ramadan takes place March 10 - April 9

Ramadan is an Islamic religious observance and is expected to begin at sundown on March 10 and end on April 9 this year. It is possible that Northshore's practicing Muslim students will fast, including no food or drink (as well as water), from dawn to dusk through the duration of this observance. Look for insights and ideas to support our Muslim students during Ramadan that will be shared on Wednesday, March 6 in the weekly Northshore Learns & Announcements message. 

Looking for other student and staff celebrations?

IMPORTANT DATES

Key Dates

March 6 - Wednesday Early Release
March 11 - School Board Meeting, 4 p.m., School Board Study Session, 5:30 p.m.
March 12 - Conversations with the Board, 6-7:30 p.m., Leota Middle School Library
March 13 - Wednesday Early Release
March 18 - School Board Retreat, 5 p.m.
March 20 - Wednesday Early Release
March 25 - School Board Study Session, 5 p.m., School Board Meeting, 7 p.m.
March 27 - Wednesday Early Release

Religious and Cultural Observances

March 1 - *Baha’i Fast (ends March 19)
March 8 - Maha Shivaratri
March 10 - *Ramadan begins (ends April 9)
March 10 - Daylight Saving Time begins - set clocks AHEAD one hour
March 19 - Nowruz (Persian New Year)
March 25 - Holi
March 29 - Good Friday
March 31 - Easter

*Begins at sundown of previous day/ends at sundown

Nondiscrimination

Northshore School District is enriched by the many experiences and perspectives each individual member brings to our District and community. Therefore, our District prohibits discrimination based on age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, cognitive, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.

Civil Rights and ADA Coordinator for Staff: 
Jerred Kelly
3330 Monte Villa Parkway
Bothell, WA 98021-8972
425-408-7622 or 7604
TitleIXOfficer@nsd.org  

Title IX Coordinator: 
Jerred Kelly
3330 Monte Villa Parkway
Bothell, WA 98021-8972
425-408-7622 or 7604
TitleIXOfficer@nsd.org 

The Northshore School District shall provide equal educational opportunity and treatment for all students in all aspects of the District’s academic, activities, or employment programs without discrimination. In addition, the District provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups in its programs and activities.

Section 504 and ADA Coordinator for Students: 
Rick Ferrell
Director of Student Services
3330 Monte Villa Parkway
Bothell, WA 98021-8972
425-408-7632
rferrell@nsd.org 

Any Northshore School District staff and community member has the right to raise concerns or make a complaint regarding discrimination under this policy without fear of retaliation. The above-listed employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged unlawful discrimination.