Vashon school board previews $1.3 million cuts, public and board spar over counselors, library and athletics

The Vashon Island School District on Thursday presented a list of proposed program reductions to close an estimated $1.3 million deficit, prompting strong public pleas to spare counselors and other student-facing staff and a board debate over whether to pursue administrative cuts instead.

District leaders told the board that lower enrollment (about 1,399 students, roughly 65 fewer than six years ago) and rising costs left a gap the district could no longer absorb through attrition. “We presented at the last board meeting that we knew that we were going to be in a deficit of $1,300,000,” the district presenter said as the administration walked trustees through Exhibit A, a staffing-and-program reduction list built to bring the budget back into balance.

Why it matters: The reductions target specialists, tier-2 intervention supports and some classified and central-office time. Staff said the plan as presented is a ‘worst-case’ recommendation intended to hit the target while noting retirements or resignations could change whether positions are eliminated. Board members and public commenters warned that cuts to counselors, PBIS/tier-2 staff and library services would have outsized effects on the district’s most vulnerable students.

What was proposed: Officials said the proposal totaled several full- and fractional-FTE changes — staff described roughly a 6.7 FTE reduction in the initial list — with specific examples including reducing elementary specialist FTE to 0.8 (Spanish, art, library in some configurations) and restructuring tier-2 supports by moving from two certificated specialists (reading and math) to a single certificated lead supported by paraeducators.

Public reaction: Teachers and union leaders pressed the board to protect counseling and tier-2 supports. "Cutting 50% of our counseling staff at the middle school moves us to a responsive model of counseling versus a preventative model," Jenny Graham, a McMurray teacher and VEA president, said in public comment, arguing that counseling is crucial for triage, attendance work and early intervention. Tim Johnson of the local hospital district also urged restraint, saying youth behavioral-health services on the island are already undersupplied.

Board debate and timeline: Trustees repeatedly returned to two tensions: (1) whether to seek deeper administrative or central-office reductions so student-facing roles can be shielded, and (2) the short timeline for certificated actions. Staff said certificated staffing decisions must be settled before May 15; trustees scheduled follow-up work, asked staff for a more detailed school-by-school breakdown of 0.2 and 0.6 FTE changes, and signaled they will consult Puget Sound ESD for an external review and restoration-plan guidance.

Numbers and safeguards: The superintendent described payroll at roughly $1.8 million per month and said the district had been able in prior years to use retirements and resignations to shield classroom supports. Staff emphasized the restoration plan is intended to prioritize returning services if revenues or fund-balance conditions improve.

Next steps: The board asked staff to post more granular information and to return with options; trustees discussed a potential special meeting or study session in early May to weigh final recommendations before certificated notices would be required. The board did not take final action on the reduction list Thursday.

Ending: The district plans to refine the reductions, engage with the ESD and present updated materials before any formal personnel actions, while parents, teachers and health partners continue to press for protections for counselors and tier-2 supports.