Dear Bellevue School District Community,
At tonight’s Regular School Board Meeting, I presented a $20 million spending reduction plan for the 2025-2026 school year. Even though many of you likely saw some of these cuts coming, I know it must have been painful to see them in black and white, particularly if your job is impacted or the services that your child has depended on are on the list. In the end, this deep reduction in spending was bound to impact practically everything and everyone.
As we navigate this challenging time, I want to share a simple but important value that I hold: people — our students, teachers, staff, and families — are at the heart of every decision made. Although budget conversations never feel this way, which I understand completely, these decisions are not just about dollars and cents. Stabilizing our district’s finances comes from a deep care about people’s livelihoods, students’ experiences, and the future of our district. My promise to you is that these decisions will not be made lightly, and they will not be made without consideration of their human impact.
What We Learned from Our Community
Thank you to everyone who shared your thoughts in January through the survey or one of over 50 community listening sessions. Your input helped me to craft a plan that minimized (as much as possible) negative impact and created restoration priorities to guide what we restore when (not if) additional funds come from the state. We heard from students, staff, and families who spoke passionately about their priorities and offered thoughtful suggestions on how to increase revenue and reduce spending. To learn what different groups in our community shared, please review the Community Engagement Feedback presentation. Although some of the recommendations conflicted with others, there were five common themes that crossed groups:
- Buffer those with greatest needs to the extent possible
- Preserve student engagement and learning (ex. 7-period day, music, art, clubs, activities, and athletics)
- Prioritize student-facing supports
- Get lean and efficient starting with central office
- Improve transparency and communication
I recognize the anxiety and uncertainty that these cuts may bring over the next couple of months. My commitment to you is that we will continue this process with transparency and compassion. We will seek input and feedback, explore every option, and make decisions that preserve the excellence that defines the Bellevue School District.
Requesting Your Continued Feedback
In the coming weeks, you will have opportunities to share feedback on this proposal. Here are three different ways to provide feedback:
I invite you to be part of the conversation because this district is our beloved community — and together, we will navigate this challenge with the same spirit of resilience and collaboration that makes Bellevue exceptional.
In service of our community,
Dr. Kelly Aramaki
Superintendent, Bellevue School District