March Superintendent's Update

March arrives with its usual mix of demands. School leaders are projecting enrollment and revenue for next year, watching the legislative short session, and pushing through the third quarter with students and staff. It is a lot to hold at once.

 

Statewide, public school enrollment continues to decline. I hope your numbers are staying mostly stable. State revenue also continues to fall short of what students and districts need, and that shapes the decisions we all face.

 

This session produced mixed results for K–12 schools. The Running Start bill, which would have returned unused tuition and fee funding to school districts, stalled before a vote. The $100-per-student Materials, Supplies, and Operating Costs request also did not make it through. Looking ahead, other proposed Running Start changes, including limits on credits and eliminating the summer quarter, may still take effect and are worth watching.

 

One meaningful outcome did emerge: new legislation clarifying last year's services tax now includes language that would exempt K–12 from that tax. We expect final decisions within the next few days.

 

Every day brings something unexpected. Some days, we respond quickly. Other days, we pause, breathe, and seek legal or collegial support before moving forward. Thank you for everything you do to meet the needs of students and families across our region.