Superintendent Casey Summers and finance staff briefed the board on the fiscal consequences after the district’s override failed in the Nov. 13 election. Unofficial results presented at the meeting showed 44,657 ballots cast and a narrow margin against the override (51.43% no, 48.57% yes). The administration projected an $11 million reduction in FY27 and estimated a three‑year fiscal gap of roughly $33 million.

Summers and finance staff enumerated the primary categories currently funded by the M&O override and therefore at risk: school‑based supports and class‑size staffing (approximately $22.4 million), all‑day kindergarten ($4.2 million), supplemental extracurricular/athletics support ($3 million), and compensation items ($3.5 million). The administration noted additional pressures from projected enrollment declines (up to 1,000 fewer students) and rising operational costs such as insurance and utilities.

The superintendent said staff will prepare preliminary budget scenarios and reduction options, including program consolidations, staffing distributions, and longer‑range capital planning tradeoffs. The administration recommended transparency, equity in impacts across schools and earlier notifications to employees if jobs could be affected. The tentative schedule calls for a board study session on Jan. 8 to review initial recommendations and community engagement tools launching in December.

During the public comment period several speakers urged swift, transparent action; others asked the board to consider protecting communities that historically supported district funding. Trustees asked for data that models enrollment, cost drivers (including projected insurance increases) and potential consolidation or closure scenarios; facilities and master‑planning work will feed into those analyses.

Procurement and urgent operational matters: in the same meeting the board authorized issuance of several RFPs and IFBs and permitted an emergency procurement for walk‑in and online grocery purchases to ensure food service continuity until a competitive contract is awarded. The board also ratified WestMEC exhibits and several cooperative contracts that staff said will help manage program and operational continuity as budget scenarios are developed.

Next steps: staff will produce scenario analyses, refine community engagement, and return with recommended reductions and timelines beginning January; the board flagged the importance of giving employees adequate notice ahead of contract issuance in March.