The Edmonds School District made an estimated $10 million in cuts to staff, services and programs over the past year, according to estimates Edmonds School District Business and Finance Director Lydia Sellie provided Thursday to the My Neighborhood News Network.

The district is projecting a budget deficit of $8.5 million for the 2025-26 school year, falling from the $10.6 million deficit estimated for 2024-25. But these figures aren’t set in stone.  With the current school year still in progress, the district’s exact expenditures for 2024-25 are still to be calculated. Additionally, final budget estimates for next school year aren’t expected until late June.

At a special board meeting in April 2024, the district reviewed a set of budget recommendations to balance the 2024-25 budget. Sellie confirmed Thursday the district had followed through with all of the proposed cuts. 

While some cuts were made in light of the budget shortfall, the district has always adjusted staffing and services based on demand and enrollment numbers, Sellie said in an email.  If not enough students sign up for a program or class, the district makes cuts as necessary, 

Additionally, eliminating a position doesn’t always mean the district is laying off a staff member, as some staff hold more than one position or existing staff are paid extra for duties outside of their primary job. 

The following is a list of expenditure reductions the district made in the past year and the estimated savings of each reduction: 

15% Central office reductions: $3 million 

– 1 assistant superintendent

– 1 administrative assistant

– 1.2 directors 

– 2 managers 

– 1 professional technical 

– 2 office professionals and an additional reduction in hours and days 

Eliminated: 2 of 3 mailers and printed calendars: $52,000

Eliminated stipends for athletic flex coaches: $145,000

Eliminated kindergarten Jump Start Program: $242,000

Changed middle school registrar model: $111,000

– Two of four positions were eliminated, number of days were increased for the remaining positions. 

Reduced building budgets by 10%: $100,000

Reduced high school office professional staffing by 10%: $210,000

Eliminated fifth- grade band and orchestra (~5 full time employees): $766,000

Eliminated equity professional development: $68,000

Eliminated family engagement liaison positions (two positions): $240,000

Eliminated student leadership conference: $20,000

Eliminated kindergarten fair: $20,000 

Eliminated graduation live stream: $10,000

Reduced school-based paraeducators by 20 hours per day: $173,000

Limited substitutes: $50,000

Changed student perception survey: $33,000

Eliminated high school, middle school and grant funded or one-time funded elementary student intervention coordinators and overall reductions at the elementary level: (7 positions): $695,000 

Eliminated Edmonds Family Preschool program (1 position): $86,000

Moved Edmonds eLearning Academy to Woodway Campus, and reduced non-teaching staff (three positions): $516,000

Reduced support services including custodial hours/days, eliminated  vacant positions and made reductions to supplies, materials, and purchased services: $2.475 million

One-time student library allocation reduction: $195,000

One-time reduction in school carryovers: $802,00

On Tuesday, April 15 the school board is scheduled to review a potential staff reduction plan – with 12 positions on the line if the district deems it necessary to balance next year’s budget.

Sellie didn’t offer additional comments on the cuts, but said there is “still time for the [state] Legislature to do the right thing.”

In the final days of the state legislative session, local education leaders called  on lawmakers in Olympia to support bills that would provide more educational funding. The state is facing an education funding crisis, and the burden is being shouldered by students and teachers, Edmonds School District Superintendent Rebecca Miner, Edmonds School District Board of Directors President Nancy Katims and Edmonds Education Association President Andi Nofziger said in a letter in March. 

Read here for more information on how the district is considering closing its projected $8.5 million budget gap ahead of the 2025-26 school year. 

— Contact Ashley at ashley@myedmondsnews.com.