Thurston County superintendents warn of flat funding, facility needs and mounting student mental-health demand

Thurston County school superintendents told the county commissioners at a Feb. 18 work session that flat state funding, rising operating costs and declining kindergarten enrollment are squeezing district budgets and putting non-core supports at risk.

Kevin Bogart, a superintendent who spoke early in the session, highlighted a recently passed local capital levy that he said represents "about a $50,000,000 investment into the ... school district," and said much of levy spending goes to invisible but necessary work such as roofs and HVAC systems. He also told commissioners the district has seen insurance costs climb sharply, from roughly $900,000 to about $1,800,000, which he said is worsening budget pressure.

Other superintendents described similar strains. Chris Woods said his district is "operating without levy dollars" after a recent failed levy, with midyear cuts already made and "multimillion dollar cuts" — in the $8 million to $10 million range — anticipated next year if levy revenues are not restored. He said personnel now account for roughly 85% of his districts budget, limiting options to reduce costs.

Districts also reported enrollment volatility. Bogart and others said kindergarten counts have dropped, forcing at least one kindergarten class to be collapsed and staff reassigned. Superintendents emphasized conservatism in projections because small enrollment shifts can require difficult staffing changes.

Several speakers warned that reductions tend to chip away at programs that support students who need extra help. "When funding dries up a little bit, it just chips away at programs designed to help some of our outlier students," one superintendent said, listing academic supports, social-emotional programming and mental-health services as vulnerable.

Commissioners pressed about student mental-health and access to social workers and case managers. North Thurstons presenter said the district has had mental-health professionals assigned to every school on a part-time basis, but that budget tightening may force reductions. "There's 0 funding for that staff and I don't see a path forward without potentially reducing that," the superintendent said.

Superintendents and commissioners framed the issues as regional and systemic rather than unique to any one district. They asked the county to note the effect of housing instability, students experiencing homelessness and students with suicidal ideation — citing these as daily realities that require community-wide responses.

The check-in also highlighted local efforts: adoption of a new Core Knowledge Language Arts curriculum in one district; schedule adjustments to preserve instructional minutes while increasing teacher collaboration; and a planned early-learning facility (named LEAF, described as a Young Child and Family Center) supported by the 2024 capital measure and due to open in 2027.

Commissioners thanked the superintendents for the briefing and asked staff to circulate supporting materials cited during the discussion. The session closed with an acknowledgement that many of the district issues — levies, enrollment and behavioral health — will require continued coordination across the county.