At the April 9, 2025, School Board meeting, Hood River County School District (HRCSD) confirmed it will move forward with approximately $4 million in budget reductions for the 2025–26 school year in response to a growing structural budget shortfall.

This update follows several months of engagement, analysis, and public discussion, including prior announcements at the January 22 and February 26 Board meetings.

The budget shortfall is driven by multiple factors, including:

• Lower-than-expected revenues
• Declining student enrollment
• The expiration of one-time federal pandemic relief funds
• Inflation and rising operational costs
• A $2.5 million increase in PERS (Public Employees Retirement System) contributions

“Making reductions is incredibly difficult, especially when it impacts the people and programs that contribute so much to our students' success,” said Superintendent Bill Newton. “We are guided by care, equity, and transparency as we make these necessary adjustments to maintain long-term financial sustainability.”

Approximately 80% of the district’s general fund is allocated to staffing, which means that reductions will impact licensed, classified, and administrative positions at the district, elementary, middle, and high school levels. Notifications to impacted staff will begin the week of April 14.

Specific reductions include:

• Instructional coaches supporting professional learning across all schools
• Family engagement specialists at the elementary levels
• Classroom teachers at all grade levels
• Consolidation of some administrative responsibilities

“We want to be clear—these roles are deeply valued,” said Newton. “These are not value judgments about the people or the quality of their work. These are value-driven decisions made in the context of very limited resources.”

Despite the reductions, the district is committed to preserving its core commitments, including:

• Maintaining the number of instructional days
• Supporting students with special needs
• Keeping class sizes as low as possible
• Strengthening social-emotional support and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)
• Using research-based curriculum and instructional practices
• Protecting enrichment opportunities for students

The school district encourages community members to stay informed and engaged in the budget process. Resources are available at www.hoodriver.k12.or.us/budget, including:

• Budget Update slide presentation from April 9, 2025
• School Board meeting recording from April 9, 2025, for a full overview and contex
• Budget information and updates

The HRCSD Budget Committee will meet in April and May, with final budget adoption anticipated in June. Adjustments may be revisited depending on the finalized State School Fund allocation.

“We understand this is a hard time, and we are grateful for the support of our community,” Newton said. “We remain committed to doing the very best for every student, every day—with resilience, transparency, and hope for the future.”