[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6390723,"mediaKeyId","2112100-bf6965ef0e8f834d4f503046a2ec5c3c","parentId",2112100,"title","Mercer Island School District warns of $3 million shortfall for 2025–26; officials press state action and local measures","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1205000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112100-bf6965ef0e8f834d4f503046a2ec5c3c&start=1205&end=1205","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112100-bf6965ef0e8f834d4f503046a2ec5c3c/thumbnail_1205000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6390723/Washington/Mercer-Island-School-District-warns-of-3-million-shortfall-for-202526-officials-press-state-action-and-local-measures","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6390723-ae1c6d63b9e13b3d68534ba2e6ba4c0e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151440&Signature=UKAIh-A5hQ8P1KKvjs02s~shVfPSqhSHS27tRM9ItZTfJnJndI-aV3wvcP65w0fErOPedGI293wxSdbrLkuGKKQsFx4eUkPjY6fkv~ggNAWsFF9gk3Ai3CLPlc5bbR-PiybgvRGwUw0pV7M4WTcB~POJWzs3HyOSZCvLHEsCVlk~HZG5IM4YZKtsfuAkU-dysxKYR740n3~S4XpLLBwmTaZAdl2ydp8sOZ37yyTYmgXGs3PhExItz7Peeu5ey35BnvHCH3ojJACTs4B78G0RjhZrDwIo5snfSsSUNFSLfgqk~Du2mp-dDhzJM76zeEyVwRkYFlbInc9F3UK3D2tr9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mercer Island School District","date","2025-01-09T00:00:00Z","article","The Mercer Island School District projected a roughly $3,000,000 budget shortfall for the 2025–26 school year if no new revenue is secured, district leaders said during a public budget webinar.

Superintendent (unnamed) said the district is \"out of tricks\" after using multiple one-time measures and reserves. He said the shortfall would affect the district after the current school year and called for collective action, including legislative changes at the state level and local measures.

District officials said enrollment this year is better than projected: the headcount was about 3,900 students, slightly above a projection of 3,815 and above last year's 3,881. Officials emphasized that state funding is tied to student full-time equivalent (FTE) rather than headcount.

The superintendent described the district's financial picture and the major drivers of the shortfall. Personnel costs account for nearly 83% of general-fund expenditures (44.5% for certified staff, 18% for classified staff, and about 20% for benefits). The district projects a $2,100,000 shortfall in materials, supplies and operating costs and about a $1,000,000 shortfall in transportation funding. Insurance costs were cited as having risen roughly 137% compared with 2018–19 levels (from about $478,000 to roughly $1,100,000 annually, as described in the meeting).

Officials traced part of the revenue squeeze to a state cap on local Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) levies. The district said the EP&O levy cap limits Mercer Island to about $12,000,000 in levy collections this year, a reduction from historic collections that the superintendent said were about $17,800,000 when escalated — a difference he described as roughly $6,000,000 in lost local funding compared with earlier years. Those funds, he said, previously supported activities such as 7th-period high school classes, maintenance for four elementary schools, non-fee band/orchestra/choir for elementary grades and athletics.

District leaders listed actions already taken and options under consideration: conservative enrollment projections and demographic studies, limits on travel and discretionary spending, careful auditing, use of interfund loans only as short-term measures, targeted staff reductions and exploring modest increases to student fees and ASB collections. The superintendent said the district is trying to avoid cuts to core classrooms but acknowledged painful staffing reductions have already occurred (reduced FTE in elementary librarians, elimination of some associate principals and not backfilling certain administrative roles).

Officials said legislative relief is critical. The superintendent urged state lawmakers to address three priorities: increased support for special education, transportation and materials/supplies/operating costs. He noted the McCleary court case and the state constitution's requirement to fully fund basic education but said districts remain short in key areas. Parents and PTA leaders were encouraged to contact legislators; Mar Breton, the PTA's legislative advocate, presented options for parents to sign a letter, join state PTA action alerts and meet legislators as the 2025 legislative session began.

District leaders noted that even if the legislature lifts the EP&O cap, any increase in local levy collections would require voter approval at the district level. The superintendent said the district will seek renewal of its EP&O levy next February and could ask voters for changes at that time if legislative action allows.

The district plans further community engagement this spring, more detailed staffing analysis and continued advocacy in Olympia. Officials said they will provide specific budget trade-offs as planning continues.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","MISD Budget Webinar - January 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Superintendent said the district projects a roughly $3 million deficit for 2025–26 without new revenue. Officials described causes — levy caps, special education underfunding, rising insurance and transportation costs — and outlined possible responses including staffing reductions, fee increases and legislative advocacy.","taxTitle","Mercer Island School District, School Districts, Washington","taxId",57180,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6390728,"Mercer Island schools condemn swastika vandalism at Islander Middle School; police investigating, district increases supervision",468,22000,490000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112100-bf6965ef0e8f834d4f503046a2ec5c3c&start=22&end=490","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112100-bf6965ef0e8f834d4f503046a2ec5c3c/thumbnail_22000.jpg","/articles/6390728/Washington/Mercer-Island-schools-condemn-swastika-vandalism-at-Islander-Middle-School-police-investigating-district-increases-supervision","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6390728-d5917471fc70115b7227d88a725dccdd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151440&Signature=V25OFZkLuK1UYK-wgv1RaogSvhy7tS~WCamd6UcY-z~~0kIbomqACXpTp1HVbaFRTvRZw2IMTfjYlZtkEZRN~~5qUtZ7antALimAzg7dAOWsgFXxjBE3nF97JQdwA1eYUZ02b4jXTZpQCzCm~NkC1ip0EqyiQKnP4ONdCBvfXkX4lzPzhF4eCKrz-Kfe9ykpOsmLsPw4bUfguJstACdvSG1V15BqDxyGUShdwdsNmw-CJbAmBGQgEQ5hiPPM7k7DwbEGOS5Jt4vBkQxBncfpAqiOWP2Mu18z74HybWXs0DVbEek96I5BCeJJRFOcVg7CqRzwiTiB~hcbiid9UMV9yA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mercer Island School District said swastikas and other hate symbols were discovered in bathrooms at Islander Middle School after winter break, and law enforcement is investigating.

Superintendent (unnamed) told participants that the \"abhorrent act of vandalism on January 1st that was discovered on January 2nd remains an active investigation,\" and that the district is coordinating with the Mercer County Police Department. He said the district had planned to release video and other visual evidence but postponed doing so because of \"some new information.\"

The superintendent said the district condemns the incident. \"It hurts our students, it hurts our community, and we condemn it,\" he said. He described immediate steps taken at Islander Middle School: a morning announcement condemning the symbols, a staff stand-up meeting to review hall-pass norms, additional supervision in bathrooms and hallways, and an administrator-prepared video sent to students.

District staff also organized a lesson prepared by Islander Middle School's social studies team \"about the history, the significance, and the pain of the symbol,\" which students participated in, the superintendent said. He added that last year's partnership with the Holocaust Center for Humanity will be accelerated: district leaders are speaking with the center's director of education to begin conversations \"in earnest.\"

The superintendent said more than 15 students have already signed up for a new Islander Middle School student group formed \"to stand up\" to hate and reclaim the school culture. He said staff convened multiple times in the week after break to plan interventions and supports.

The superintendent also described a related community reaction after a regional event in which an invited speaker, identified in the meeting as Dr. David Knight, displayed an image the superintendent said some attendees found offensive. \"I've reached out to the individual, Dr. David Knight, and I've asked for an explanation,\" the superintendent said, adding that he wanted to apologize to anyone who saw that slide.

Police continue to investigate the vandalism, and the superintendent said the district will keep the community informed as appropriate and continue education and supervision measures at Islander Middle School.

Looking ahead, the superintendent said the district will continue classroom and staff-based education about the symbol's history and pain and will sustain increased supervision while the investigation proceeds.","School leaders said swastikas were found in Islander Middle School bathrooms after winter break. The district condemned the act, has increased supervision and curriculum responses, and is coordinating with police on an active investigation.","actionData","errors"]

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Mercer Island School District warns of $3 million shortfall for 2025–26; officials press state action and local measures

Mercer Island schools condemn swastika vandalism at Islander Middle School; police investigating, district increases supervision