Five Year Plan
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What Did Voters Approve in 2023 & How Does It Shape SoWashCo’s Five-Year Plan?
The Key Takeaway In 2022, SoWashCo voters rejected a $462.7 million facilities proposal. In 2023, they approved a substantially narrower plan: $201.2 million in construction bonds focused on existing schools and a separate ten-year technology levy. The 2023 plan preserved Newport, Crestview, and Pine Hill as elementary schools; eliminated two replacement schools and several support-facility…
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Could an Operating Referendum Be Part of SoWashCo’s Five-Year Plan?
The Key Takeaway SoWashCo Schools has not announced a new operating referendum as of 8/26/26. However, the district’s remaining levy authority makes one a possible component of its five-year financial plan. Available state information suggests voters could authorize approximately $200 to $250 more per adjusted pupil unit, potentially generating about $4.0 million to $5.1 million…
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SoWashCo’s LTFM Construction Fund Is Nearly $12 Million Ahead of Plan. What Is the Money For?
The Key Takeaway The school district sells bonds to pay for Long-Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) construction projects. South Washington County Schools entered fiscal year 2026 with approximately $7.2 million more in its LTFM construction account than it had projected one year earlier, but it sold essentially the full planned principal amount of facilities-maintenance bonds anyway.…
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10 Questions For Evaluating Budget Proposals When They Are Released
The Key Takeaway A credible budget recommendation should make five things clear: No budget adjustment will be painless. There will be legitimate disagreements about priorities and acceptable tradeoffs. The district’s responsibility is not to eliminate disagreement. It is to provide enough information for the School Board and community to understand what each proposal accomplishes, what…
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Are Electives and Activities Costs to Cut or Reasons Families Choose SoWashCo Schools?
The Key Takeaway Electives and activities have real costs. The district should examine whether each program remains financially and educationally justified. But these offerings also help define the value of a comprehensive public-school system. They can connect students to school, support academic and career pathways, and influence whether families choose SoWashCo. The district should not…
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Before SoWashCo Closes or Consolidates a School, What Should the Public See?
The Key Takeaway Closing or consolidating a school may be necessary if SoWashCo has more elementary space than it expects to need. Continuing to operate underused buildings can divert resources from instruction, student support, and other district priorities. But the gross cost of a building is not the same as the financial benefit of closing…
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Why Are Some Families Leaving SoWashCo? And Why Do Most Stay?
The Key Takeaway SoWashCo cannot control birth rates or every family decision. It can control whether its programs are accessible, distinctive, responsive, and clearly communicated. A declining student count does not tell us how much of the change is unavoidable. It does not tell us why families choose charter schools, neighboring districts, private schools, or…
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SoWashCo Has An Enrollment Problem, But It Is Not the Same In Every School
The Key Takeaway SoWashCo does not have one uniform enrollment or capacity problem. The district is experiencing declining overall enrollment, substantial unused elementary space in some areas, and crowding elsewhere in the system. Those differences matter. A vacant elementary seat cannot solve high-school overcrowding. A districtwide enrollment decline does not mean every classroom is getting…
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Adjustment & Five-Year Plan Overview
The Key Takeaway SoWashCo is conducting two related but different planning processes. The budget adjustment will address the district’s most immediate financial pressures, while the five-year plan will make broader decisions about enrollment, facilities, programs, and the district’s long-term direction. These processes should not be evaluated separately. Near-term adjustments will shape the options available for…
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What the 2026-27 Budget Tells Us About SoWashCo’s Financial Health
The Key Takeaway SoWashCo’s 2026–27 budget clearly shows a financial problem. The General Fund is projected to spend approximately $8 million more than it receives. Expenses are growing faster than revenue. Enrollment is declining. The fund balance is falling and is already below the district’s 16.6% policy benchmark. That is enough information to support action.…