The Bellevue School District has announced a $20 million budget cut for the 2025-26 school year due to rising costs, increased student needs, and not enough state funding. Superintendent Dr. Kelly Aramaki presented the plan at a School Board meeting on February 6, 2025. The goal is to avoid stricter financial rules from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) because the district’s savings are running low.
Budget Shortfall and Cuts
Even after previous budget cuts, the district has been overspending by $10 million each year. The new cuts will affect about 150-170 staff members, reducing the workforce by 7%. The cuts will be spread across three main areas:
- Central Office: 40-49 positions ($5.4M-$6.7M)
- ESSER-Funded Programs: 25-31.5 positions ($3.2M-$4.3M)
- School-Based Staff: 70-98 positions ($10M-$14.3M)
Major Cuts
Central Office
- Reduce 5-8 executive and director-level positions.
- Implement furloughs and holdbacks on contracts.
- Cut 25-30 central office staff roles.
- Reduce 10-11 operations staff members.
ESSER-Funded Programs
- Reduce the Mental Health Assistance Team (MHAT).
- Cut some co-teacher positions at Title I schools.
- Remove family engagement specialists at non-Title I schools.
- End the Summit Program due to low enrollment.
- Reduce the tutoring budget by half.
School-Based Staff
- Cut 12-16 assistant principals at non-Title I elementary schools.
- Reduce 30-40 classroom teachers, increasing class sizes.
- Remove 10-20 non-classroom staff like PBIS specialists, deans, and facilitators.
- Reduce classified staff at each school by one position.
Community Input and Legislative Efforts
The district held over 50 listening sessions and a community-wide survey to hear public opinions. The top priorities were protecting student-facing staff, supporting schools with high-need students, and keeping extracurricular activities.
At the same time, the district is asking state lawmakers for more funding in areas like special education, transportation, and school materials. The School Board is tracking several bills that could help with financial support.
Timeline and Next Steps
February 6-28, 2025: Community feedback survey open.
March 6, 2025: Special School Board meeting for public comments.
March 10, 2025: Superintendent submits final budget plan.
March 13, 2025: School Board votes on the plan.
March 14 – June 30, 2025: Implementation phase, including staff notifications.
While these budget cuts are meant to stabilize district finances, they will have a big impact on staff, students, and families. Community members are encouraged to share their thoughts through surveys and public meetings before the final decision.
