(The Center Square) – Tuesday marked the first day of school in Camas, in southwest Washington, where the district is grappling with budget projections that show tough times ahead.
At a Camas School Board meeting last week, Superintendent John Anzalone told the school board “rising costs, lagging revenues and a state-funding model that is not aligned with … real-world costs of running a school district,” are to blame.
Anzalone said the district plans to use money from its general fund reserves to make up for a $7.2 million budget deficit heading into the 2024-2025 school year.
Camas is not alone in its budget dilemma, as several other districts face similar trials.
“In Seattle it’s probably the most devastating right now,” said Anzalone. “They have proposed closing 20 schools by next school year, which would be one of the largest single district closures nationwide in the last 10 years. Five districts are now running in the red, including Marysville.”
Anzalone then showed board members news reports about Marysville and Vancouver school districts’ financial woes.
“It shows that we’re not alone and we’re doing the best we can and working really hard with our partners and bargaining teams to leave no stone unturned,” said Anzalone.
According to a four-year budget projection, Camas’s $131.6 million in expenditures will exceed its $124.4 million in revenues.
The district is facing significant budget cuts next year to avoid going into what is known as “binding conditions” with the state.
In binding conditions, the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and Educational Service District 112 would require the district to make specific cuts to stabilize the budget.
The district has already cut $700,000 from this year’s budget, with Anzalone detailing where those cuts are being made.
“We will eliminate six positions at the central office after a six-month runway,” he said, explaining that the district wanted to give employees some time to build their resumes and look for other work.
“This is not easy news to take but I felt as though that was something that was as far away from the classroom that we can go, but also showing some grace to our employees and give them some time,” Anzalone said.
He explained that he and other district leaders and managers will take six unpaid furlough days during the school year, staggering those out so there aren’t multiple people gone on the same day.
Other cuts include reducing materials and supply budgets, restricting travel, and eliminating return bus transportation for student-athletes attending away games in Clark County.
According to the Camas School District website, there are 7,235 students enrolled in the district, with $15,372 spent per student each year.