More than 100 parents, students and staff packed the Battle Ground Public Schools board meeting Monday night, the first since voters narrowly rejected the district's second levy attempt in just over two months.
In February, the school district asked voters to approve a $166.3 million replacement levy to continue funding staff and programs not covered by the State, which voters turned down. The district made another attempt to pass the levy during the April 22 special election. As of Thursday, April 24, results showed 11,547 (49 percent) in favor and 12,020 (51 percent) against the proposition.
The levy's failure will trigger $20 million in cuts and the elimination of roughly 200 staff positions — 170 full-time and 30 part-time — along with a wide range of academic and extracurricular programs many families say are essential.
One program that drew urgent public defense was ASPIRE, the district's magnet option for highly capable students. The program currently enrolls 146 students in grades three through eight. Dozens of students and graduates took turns at the microphone, many wearing white shirts that read "Save Aspire," calling on the board to spare the program.
One such student, Benjamin Gee, in elementary school, said he has had fun learning through the magnet program. Several students said they would be devastated to return to regular learning methods.
"Before I was [in ASPIRE], I was bored in class and often just reading books … I didn't feel like I could relate to any of my classmates," Gee told the board. "Students of the Aspire Magnet program have friends from different schools, which means they will not have many friends. They have built friendships over the years. Those said friendships will be broken."
Brian Kimber, a high school counselor and parent of three in the district, fought through emotion as he described what the program has meant for his son and others.
"My son is currently a 5th grader... since 3rd grade and has developed friendships and had academic opportunities that have allowed him to thrive as a student and a leader," Kimber said.
"Having the opportunity to work alongside like-minded students has produced such a special environment that he and his friends have loved and excelled in under the leadership of some incredible teachers."
Kimber, who expects to lose his position due to seniority cuts, said his building could lose half its counseling staff.
"Altogether, I think we've been able to support students in a really meaningful way, and it's disheartening... it's hard not to wonder how many students are gonna be missed in the coming years," he said.
Still, he called for the district to preserve the magnet program above all else. Other parents stressed the need to protect middle school sports, another offering expected to be impacted under the proposed cuts.
The ASPIRE program costs approximately $600,000 annually, while middle school sports cost around $554,000. When asked if either program could be preserved without levy funding, Waters said it would depend on several factors, including enrollment trends, staff retirements and resignations, and funding decisions by the school board.
Following public comment from students, Superintendent Denny Waters delivered a tearful address acknowledging the community's vote while underscoring the weight of the district's new reality. Waters' statement drew applause from attendees.
"Tonight is a difficult meeting for all of us," Waters said. "Obviously, we respect the decision of our taxpayers and community, and we must now move forward. We really have no choice."
"I want to make it clear, I don't want anybody to think we're rushing to do this," he added. "We have just until May 15 to notify certificated employees... that they may be losing their job."
Waters emphasized that the resolution passed Monday, authorizing the start of a reduction-in-force process, but it does not finalize which programs or roles will be cut. The resolution is a legal requirement triggered by the levy's failure and the conclusion of the state legislative session the previous Friday.
"What we present tonight to the board is a worst-case scenario," he said. "No final decisions will be made regarding what positions or what programs might ultimately be preserved until we have a clearer understanding of the outcome of the legislative session and the related budget implications of that."
During a statement before the board, Waters stressed his concerns over the Republican Party's involvement in the election and called the levy failure a "self-inflicted wound for us." The Washington State Republican Party sent flyers to Battle Ground residents, alleging the district allowed students of different genders to enter restrooms and locker rooms. The flyers also compared the district's student performance and attendance to its spending, urging parents to vote no.
"Schools have found themselves in the middle of a divisive political climate when one of the major political parties in the state sends out a flyer with misinformation and urging members of their party to vote no on the Battle Ground levy," Waters said.
In a statement following the meeting, Waters also pushed back on claims made in opposition flyers. He said district enrollment has increased by more than 1,000 students since 2022, contradicting claims of declining numbers. He addressed accusations of financial mismanagement by pointing to recent state audits, which found no misuse of funds or evidence of fraud.
He said public input following the failure has not gone unnoticed.
"I personally received emails regarding the virtues of the Aspire program... counselors, school safety officers... nurses and crossing guards," he said. "I want to clearly state for the record — we agree with you. All of those things, all of those people are important. And we would love nothing more than to not have to make these cuts."
Waters called the outcome "the single biggest disappointment of my 38-year professional career."
While applauding the board for their work, he acknowledged the pain yet to come.
"When we make these final cuts... there will be people that will be unhappy," he said. "And for that, I am profoundly sorry."
The board approved the resolution unanimously. Final decisions on what stays and what goes are expected later this spring.
