PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles School District board has unanimously approved a $63 million budget for the 2025-2026 school year.
The board reviewed and discussed the budget at a special meeting Aug. 14 and passed it Thursday night.
It was developed in light of flattening state and federal support that makes up 86 percent of the district’s $63.1 million in revenue.
Total government support is up just $263,448 from last year. Total full-time enrollment is projected to be 3,223 students and remain fairly steady over the next three school years.
Among the good news for the district was the bill passed by the state Legislature this spring that removes the cap that limits special education funding to 16 percent of enrollment. Since almost 18 percent of district students receive those services, it had to dip into other resources to make up the difference.
Salaries and employee benefits are the district’s biggest expenses, making up 82 percent ($52 million) of the $63 million in expenditures, followed by purchased services ($7.7 million), materials and supplies ($3.3 million), capital outlay ($1 million) and travel ($72,350).
The budget takes into consideration anticipated increases in fuel, insurance and legal fee costs, as well as in employee compensation, benefits and costs linked to bargained adjustments for inflation and salary steps.
Among the decisions made to balance the budget were cutting six secondary and seven elementary instructional staff positions, seven one-year paraeducators and the AmeriCorps director.
School districts statewide are required by law to produce a balanced budget.
In her July financial report, business and operations director Karen Casey said the district’s $2.7 million fund balance at the end of July still didn’t meet board policy to maintain a fund balance that is 7 percent of expenditures, or $4.4 million. The district needs to continue to decrease costs to meet that goal, even though the amount is higher than in the past two years, which means the district is making progress, she said.
“It’s the result of all the hard work of our team at the district,” Casey said.
In other board action, directors approved a $61.8 million guaranteed maximum price agreement with FORMA Construction for Stevens Middle School that now includes modernizing the gym and installing turf fields.
The board approved the additions at its July 26 meeting. When the project came in $1.2 million under budget, it provided the district an opportunity to include elements that had been on its wish list.
Director of capital projects Nolan Duce said the gym will be closed April 1, 2026, to Jan. 1, 2027, during the upgrades. An alternative site for serving lunch, which now takes place in the gym, will be arranged; football players will be transported by bus to the high school for practices.
Onsite work at Stevens began in April; the classroom wing is expected to be completed by April 12, 2027.
Duce it is on schedule for a grand opening in September 2027.
The total cost of the new middle school is $81.14 million.
Directors will discuss and take action on selecting a new name for Stevens at their next meeting on Sept. 25.
Board President Sarah Methner, directors Mary Hebert and Sandy Long were in attendance at Thursday’s meeting; directors Kirsten Williams and Stan Williams had excused absences.
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.
