Battle Ground School District board backs three-year levy resolution to restore services

The Battle Ground School District board voted unanimously at a special meeting to approve Resolution I-26, a three-year student safety, academic support, educational programs and operational levy proposed for the November ballot. The board’s clerk recorded all voting members present as supporting the resolution.

Shelley, the district staff presenter, told the board the three-year structure was chosen so the district could show voters outcomes from levy-funded work sooner than a four‑year ask would allow. She said roughly $37,000,000 is expected in the first year, about $38.69 million in year two and about $40.43 million in year three, and described those amounts as estimates based on current assessor data. Shelley also described an estimated millage near $1.76 per $1,000 of assessed value and said those figures are subject to change as assessments and other variables change.

Why it matters: district staff said a large share of the first-year revenue would be spent on state‑required or categorical costs the district must meet (what staff called “unfunded mandates”), with remaining dollars restoring programs cut in recent years. Shelley said the levy would be used to restore counseling capacity, student safety supports such as school security officers and assistant principals, curriculum updates and some student activities, and to reduce class sizes in targeted grades where possible.

On special education, Shelley stressed statutory obligations under FAPE and IDEA: “We won’t be making cuts to special education,” she said, adding that because state and federal special education funding can fall short, the district must reallocate other local funds when shortfalls occur. Shelley noted the district had applied for a safety‑net grant this year and received less than requested, producing a gap staff covered from other funds.

Public comment preceded the vote. Terry Dodson, a resident, described a Citizens for Better Schools golf tournament Aug. 14 at Lewisville Golf Course to raise money for campaign mailers, door hangers and advertising in support of the levy; Dodson said funds could be sent via Venmo or check and pointed to votebgschools.org for registration. Sharon Duffy, a longtime district parent and grandparent, asked whether raw survey results were available and said messaging about special education in campaign materials had caused confusion; the board and staff said the raw data had been provided to the board and reiterated that special‑education services are required by IEP teams.

Board members pressed staff on program details and trade‑offs. Questions covered tiered supports for reading and interventions, the district’s AWARE grant history and how counselors’ roles have shifted toward prevention and referral to outside services. Staff described prior reductions in counseling (noting some K–8 positions were reduced to halftime) and other staffing cuts, and cited examples such as HVAC support being reduced from three employees to one as part of prior budget balancing.

Estimates of household impact were discussed in the meeting. Shelley said an average $650,000 home would pay in the ballpark of $1,144 annually under the current estimate; staff also offered an example figure of about $95 a month for a homeowner with a $550,000 assessed value. The district characterized these as estimates tied to current assessment data and the projected millage.

After discussion, a motion to approve Resolution I-26 was put to a roll-call vote and recorded by the clerk as in favor by the board members present. The board also amended the agenda later in the meeting to add a July 27 pro tem appointment; Marshall Merritt was nominated and approved as chair pro tem for that meeting. The special meeting was adjourned at 7:14 p.m.

What’s next: Resolution I-26 will go to the November ballot if the district completes required administrative steps; the board said staff will continue outreach to explain how levy dollars would be spent and to provide additional data to community members who request it.