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2025-26 Budget Development

Despite ongoing spending-reduction efforts, Shoreline School District, like many public school districts in Washington State, continues to face a budget shortfall, with annual expenditures outpacing revenues. For the 2025-26 school year, we have an estimated budget deficit of $6.5-8.5 million, though this figure can fluctuate. Substantial reductions will be necessary to address both immediate needs and long-term financial health.

Third-Party Budget Review

The purpose of this report is to provide an independent review of the financial health of the Shoreline School District. Analysis and report provided by Sally D. McLean, April 2025.

For Shoreline School District the most immediate question addressed in the report is: 

Does Shoreline School District need to reduce expenditures by an additional $6.5 million to maintain financial stability in the 2025-26 school year? 

2025-26 and Beyond Budgetary Outlook Summary Report

2025-26 Budget Survey Initial Report

In late March 2025, Shoreline School District launched a 2025-26 Budget Development Survey to gather input from staff, families, students, and community members. The report below is an initial presentation and analysis of the responses gathered through April 13, 2025, and comparison to responses given to a spring 2023 budget survey.

2025-26 Budget Survey Initial Report

2025-26 Reduced Educational Program

At the April 1, 2025 School Board meeting, Superintendent Susana Reyes and Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Angela Von Essen presented the first reading of a draft Reduced Educational Program (REP)

Watch the Draft REP Presentation Recording

Presentation Slides

The draft REP has been developed as part of the 2025-26 budget development process. A REP is a legally required step taken by a school district to implement a reduction in force (RIF, aka: layoffs) for the following school year.

We have been on a journey to set the district on a healthier fiscal path for the last three years. Unfortunately, despite all of the cost-saving measures we have implemented; the sacrifices that staff, students, and families have made; and some bright spots such as enrollment increases and incremental state funding improvements, continued reductions are necessary. Our ending unreserved fund balance continues to be dangerously low and expenses continue to outpace our revenues.

As a result of these ongoing financial challenges, our district has been operating without certain curriculum and resources necessary to provide the high standard of educational services we expect for our students, and there have been very limited professional development opportunities. Our buildings and departments have also been operating with limited supplies, failing equipment that hasn't been replaced, and outdated systems. 

We must get to a place of financial health where we can resume investments in the elements necessary to support our schools.

When the Draft Reduced Educational Program (REP) was presented at the April 1 School Board meeting, the timeline for next steps had the vote by the Board scheduled for the April 15 meeting.

Board action on the REP has been moved to the May 6 meeting so that two key pieces of information can be better known before taking a vote: 

As we continue the important and challenging work to balance our budget, we invite staff, students, families, and community members to provide feedback and ask questions here: 2025-26 Budget Development Feedback and Questions

We have much work ahead of us as we develop the 2025-26 budget, and the survey will remain open throughout the process for ongoing community input.

The key information for members of our community to take away from this presentation is:

  • Our efforts to save money have helped us get through the past two years, and we need to continue expenditure reductions into future years to bring expenses in line with revenue. 
  • Our 2023-24 position was better than projected and current year (2024-25) projections show improvement; however, we face a significant budget deficit for next year (2025-26).
  • Substantial reductions will be necessary to address both immediate needs and long-term financial health.

Presentation slides

Superintendent's Message: Our Path to Restoring Fiscal Stability

Susana Reyes headshot

Read Dr. Reyes' message

Why Continued Reductions are Necessary

We need to consider the following current and ongoing realities of our budget emergency:

  • Our ending unreserved fund balance continues to be dangerously low
  • Expenses continue to outpace our revenues
  • Our district has been operating without certain curriculum and resources necessary to provide the high standard of educational services we expect for our students
  • There have been very limited professional development opportunities, which are critical to enhance and evolve professional practice
  • Buildings have been operating with limited supplies, failing equipment that hasn’t been replaced, and outdated systems
  • We must get to a place of financial health where we can resume investments in the elements that are necessary to support our schools
  • The more we delay investments, the more expensive it will be to bring district materials and systems up to date

2025-26 Budget Planning and Development Reports and Presentations

Shoreline School District will consider feedback received as part of the 2025-26 budget development process. Questions received will be used to create a current FAQ page.

2025-26 Budget Development Survey

Prior years' budget FAQs