Keeping the Vashon Promise as our North Star, the Vashon Island School District (VISD) school board and district leadership are taking action to address the ongoing revenue challenges that we and other regional districts are experiencing each year.

As many in our community and across the state know, the state legislature continues to underfund public school budgets. There are three key areas where Vashon Island School District is at a disadvantage:

• Special Education Funding: The Vashon Promise says, “Every student in the District is welcomed, known and treasured…” regardless of their needs. For many years, the services required for students with special needs have been underfunded. In 2022, the gap increased to approximately $800K and is expected to continue growing.
• Staff salaries/Cost Of Living Adjustments (COLA): VISD only receives the state COLA for state-funded positions (prototypical funding model), which accounts for approximately 80% of our staff. The remaining 20% of increased salary costs are funded by local levy dollars as well as state and federal grants. These funding sources do not increase by the COLA rate.
• State Regionalization (adjustment for local housing costs): VISD’s state regionalization rate is 12%. We are surrounded by districts in King and Kitsap Counties with regionalization rates of 18% which makes it extremely difficult to attract and retain highly qualified staff at all levels with competitive salaries.

At an Oct. 13 board work session, the board discussed a recently completed management review report.

The review and report were executed and provided by the consultant, Jake Kuper, from the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA). WASA has completed over 200 similar independent reviews of school district finances and operations.

The management review is intended to provide an objective look at the current operational effectiveness of our district in particular focus areas and to produce a report that our district can utilize in planning for the future. The review process involved stakeholder participation including labor leadership, building administration, and central office administration.

At the beginning of the discussion, Mr. Kuper reported, “The district is not in this position due to mismanagement.”

This is in line with the board’s confidence in our district leadership. In fact, Mr. Kuper praised our director of business and finance, Kay Adams, for the exemplary work she has completed over the years, her knowledge of school budgets, and the strategies she has used to stave off reductions to the degree we have been able to over the years.

In addition, Mr. Kuper also acknowledged the reduction made recently to VISD’s executive director of business services position as a positive step to reduce central office overhead costs and recommends continuing that reduction in future years.

The full report can be found at this link: tinyurl.com/y63x333e.

VISD has three priorities that will guide our solvency and sustainability planning:

• Priority #1: Honor VISD values and beliefs while aligning district expenditures more closely with state revenue sources.
• Priority #2: Increase VISD revenues.
• Priority #3: Maximize the impact of every dollar.

Over the next six weeks, the Board and district administration, with collaboration from the VISD Budget Advisory Board and information from this report, will develop a two-year plan.

The plan will include goals in each priority area as well as strategies to meet the goals. Following this planning period, the board will take action on the solvency and sustainability plan at its regular December board meeting.

We are confident that the actions we take as a result of this process will keep the district solvent while also maintaining shared values and responsibility, continuing the long-standing tradition of offering a unique, exceptional, place-based experience for our students and community for generations to come.

Toby Holmes is VISD board chair; Allison Krutsinger is VISD board vice-chair; Kali Aguilera, Zabette Macomber, and Mariel Fernandez Thurasingham are VISD board directors. Slade McSheehy is VISD superintendent and board secretary.