VISD projects it will need to make budget reductions somewhere in the range of $800,000 to $1.1 Million.

There are five key areas where Vashon Island School District is at a disadvantage:

• State Prototypical Funding Model: The state prototypical funding model is broken. The state continues to severely under-fund adequate staffing levels across all staffing groups. The state’s basic education allocation pays for approximately 46.9% of all VISD staff. Therefore, additional teachers, paraeducators, custodians, and specialized 

• Staff salaries/Cost Of Living Adjustments (COLA/IPD): VISD only receives the state COLA/IPD for state-funded positions (prototypical funding model), which accounts for approximately 46.9% of our staff costs. The remaining 53.1% is funded by local levy dollars as well as state and federal grants. These funding sources do not increase by the COLA/IPD rate. 

• State Regionalization (adjustment for local housing costs): VISD’s state regionalization rate is 12%. We are surrounded by districts in King and Kitsap Counties with regionalization rates of 18% which makes it extremely difficult to attract and retain highly qualified staff at all levels with competitive salaries.

• Special Education Funding: The Vashon Promise says, “Every student in the District is welcomed, known and treasured…” regardless of their needs. For many years, the services required for students with special needs have been underfunded. In 2022, the gap increased to approximately $800K and is expected to continue growing.

• Individual Staff Funding Levels: The state reduced the funding that pays for the extra cost associated with the education and experience levels of educators. Vashon has a highly educated and experienced staff. We value continued education and experience, however, we do not receive funds that match the salaries of highly educated and experienced staff.

VISD receives budgeting information at different times in the spring. Projected enrollment, projected operational costs, compensation increases as a result of negotiations, and final  revenues from the state legislature are all factors that will help define the 2023-24 budget. With limited information up front, an accurate and final analysis will not be fully known until the very end of April and possibly May, depending on when the current legislative session ends. Given the mandatory notification deadline for reduction in force for certificated staff is May 15th, a Reduction in Force resolution will be presented at the February and March Board meetings. This early timeline allows a longer runway for staff and community feedback while still meeting the May 15th deadline.

As we project lower enrollment and shortfalls, the only way to significantly address the shortfall is to reduce the number of staff. However, VISD has been trimming our Materials, Supplies, and Operating Costs (MSOCs) over the last several years and there are extremely limited options to make further MSOC reductions without impacting instructional operations and safety. In addition, VISD continues to reduce by using available grants to supplement general funded positions, reviewing district costs for outside vendors/contracts, and not filling positions vacated by attrition.

There are many variables that impact class sizes at both primary and secondary levels. Given the state’s funding levels and projected enrollment, as well as the need to reduce the total number of teaching positions, class sizes may be larger across the district. As we finish the year and student scheduling processes, our building administrators and counselors will continue to work on student schedules and student placement given the ongoing budget constraints.

Looking at regional comparisons to like-size school districts, we are appropriately staffed at the district office and administration. Despite increased unfunded mandates, the responsibilities and obligations associated with them, we have continued to reduce district office and administrative support to minimize reductions closest to the classroom. Over the last four years, we have made the following reductions: 

• 2019/20: Eliminated Middle School Assistant Principal

• 2020/21: Reduced Executive Assistant to Superintendent: 20 hrs/wk

• 2021/22: Reduced HR & Payroll Support: 3 hrs/day

• 2022/23: Reduced Building Administration COLA, 1.5%

• 2022/23: Eliminated Executive Director of Business and Operations

When faced with the current budget reality, reductions have been steered away from programs that impact priority equity groups as much as possible. As enrollment potentially decreases, we also see enrollment across equity priority groups decrease and have to adjust program staffing accordingly. Moving forward into the next school year, we will continue to review grant options as well as other revenue enhancements to follow through with our ambitious goals.

Yes, the Director of Business and Finance, Director of Human Resources, and Superintendent will be making budget presentations to staff and community. They are currently scheduled:

• CES staff: 02/08/23, CES Room 302, 4:10 p.m.

• McM staff:02/09/23, McM Library, 3:10 p.m.

• VHS staff: 02/10/23, VHS Room 1116, 3:10 p.m.

• Vashon Community: 02/13/23, Zoom presentation, 6:00 p.m., Link Here.