Bellevue School District is not planning significant staffing cuts or budget reductions for 2026-27 beyond routine enrollment adjustments.

Class sizes are expected to remain stable or slightly lower, according to a June 10 financial update from Deputy Superintendent Dr. Heather Sánchez and Executive Director of Business Services Loren Tillman posted to bsd405.org.

BSD's financial position is $15.6 million stronger than the same point in the 2024-25 school year. The projected year-end fund balance climbed from $1.9 million in November 2025 to $11.5 million by April 2026, driven by disciplined spending, avoided contingency draws, and stronger-than-expected special education reimbursements.

Superintendent Dr. Kelly Aramaki offered a slightly more conservative figure in a June 22 end-of-year blog post, projecting August ending reserves at "just over $10 million" and cautioning that much of that total comes from one-time sources: improved safety-net collections, a one-time boost in levy authority from the 2025 Legislature, and underspending in contingencies.

A year ago, the district ended with negative $700,000 in reserves.

The recovery is real but incomplete. The School Board approved a $10 million interfund loan on June 4 to cover cash-flow obligations, including payroll, through June 2027. That loan is $3 million smaller than the $13 million loan approved in May 2025, which is due for repayment in July 2026.

Sánchez and Tillman acknowledged the district has not yet restored its fund balance to full health. The June 10 update projects expenses outpacing revenues in 2026-27, and additional adjustments may be needed without increased state funding.

The state outlook is bleak. Aramaki described Washington's projected education funding as "dismal," with deeper cuts expected in the next biennium while insurance, utility, and staffing costs continue to climb statewide.

BSD operated under binding conditions with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction during 2025-26 as part of its financial recovery. The district's 2026-27 Annual Plan, approved by the School Board, focuses on math and reading achievement, special education services, educational technology guidance, and building safe schools.

Families can submit public comment to the School Board at bsd405.org/about-us/school-board/public-comments.