Earlier this month, the Bellevue School District Superintendent announced the final revisions to the Spending Reduction Plan Proposal. The district aims to cut $20 million from the budget for the 2025-2026 school year due to rising costs, increased student needs, and insufficient state funding. The objective is to prevent stricter financial oversight from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) as district savings continue to decline.
The budget reductions will impact approximately 150-170 staff members, equating to a 7% workforce reduction. The cuts are distributed 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)
Revised Spending Reduction Plan
The final revisions to the budget cuts are based on input from students, staff, families, and the community. The following changes have been made:
Mental Health Services: The district will retain five Mental Health Assistance Team (MHAT) counselors. These positions were initially funded by federal COVID-19 relief funds (ESSER).
Funding will now come primarily from general funds, with supplemental contributions from community donations through the Bellevue Schools Foundation (BSF). Each comprehensive high school will have one MHAT counselor, while the two choice schools (Big Picture and International) will share one.
Additionally, the five MHAT counselors will be assigned to middle schools. Given the reduction in district-based mental health services, school counselors will coordinate with external mental health providers for student support.
Family Engagement Specialists: The district will maintain six full-time family engagement specialists. Most will provide direct support to families in the highest-need schools, while one to two specialists will serve families across all remaining schools.
Transportation Efficiencies Through Bell Time Adjustments: Minor adjustments to school start and end times at approximately five to six schools are expected to save around $200,000. The savings are equivalent to the cost of a MHAT counselor and a paraprofessional. The changes are designed to optimize bus routes, reducing fuel costs, environmental impact, and expenditures.
School-Based Administrative Support: Schools with fewer than 700 students will lose one assistant principal, with some exceptions.
Title I-funded schools (Ardmore, Sherwood Forest, Lake Hills, and Stevenson) will retain half-time assistant principals. The 6-12 option schools (Big Picture and International) will also retain half-time assistant principals. Highland Middle School will keep a full-time assistant principal.
The district has acknowledged concerns about preserving additional elementary assistant principals but states that sustaining these positions is not feasible under the current funding model.
Central Office Reductions: Additional executive and central leadership positions will be cut, and the district leadership team will be restructured to enhance efficiency.
Summit Program at High School: The district does not have the resources to maintain the Summit Program in its current form. However, in response to student feedback emphasizing its importance for students with significant mental health needs, the district will explore alternative ways to provide some level of support for the program.
Implementation Timeline
The district has outlined the following timeline for implementing the budget reductions:
March 14 – June 30, 2025: Implementation phase, including staff notifications.
The Bellevue School District and Bellevue Schools Foundation will continue to engage with the community to explore funding solutions for mental health services and other critical programs.
