For Immediate Release
June 2, 2023
Marysville School District continues to address its budget shortfall
The District is tending to its budget shortfall, clarifying misinformation and untruths in the process.
Msvl. WA - The Marysville School District, like many public school districts across the state, is facing budget reductions in the millions of dollars, specifically $18M impacting staff, learning programs, and more.
There are multiple reasons the district is facing this budget shortfall; loss of levy funds due to a double levy failure in the spring of 2022, the end of the COVID emergency funds known as “ESSER,” a history of declining enrollment, and inadequate state funding. Although voters passed the levy in February 2023 with 58% yes votes, the district will not receive funds from the levy collections until April 2024, creating the need to make reductions to develop a fiscally sound budget for the 2023 - 2024 school year.
The district has made over $12M in reductions, with approximately $6M more to go. This includes reductions to district and school administrators and teachers, along with instructional programs such as technology and online learning. Next is looking at classified staffing, which resulted in paraprofessionals across the district recently receiving a reduction in force notice. This notice was served in accordance with the group’s collective bargaining agreement and was required to meet the necessary notification timelines. Due to the many funding sources used to pay paraprofessional hours, the district needs to rebuild positions to align with current enrollment and funding. Most recently, paraeducators received a follow-up memo sharing the steps in the process of how many will be recalled back to jobs in schools; however, we do recognize that not every employee may be recalled due to budget reductions.
“Although these are challenging times for the school district and its staff and families, we want our students, families, and staff to know that there is a plan and that the district and its schools will continue to educate and take the utmost care of every child that enters our doors,” said Paul Galovin, President of the Board of Directors. Every decision made is centered around our students and to structure the district spending for longevity in this budget crisis,” he added. The district has held open public meetings to share the budget information and, in addition, is presenting the budget to every school’s staff district-wide.
The district encourages patrons to get the facts and discourages following posts on social media that share misinformation. Rumors ultimately hurt children and are not helpful during a time when everyone must come together to support each other and, ultimately, the children and youth in our Marysville and Tulalip communities.
For more information on the budget, visit the Marysville School District website dedicated to sharing the budget information at msd25.org/budget or email communications@msd25.org. Additional information about the district’s budget can also be found at msd25.org/finance.
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