December 4, 2023

Hello Wenatchee School District,

Thank you for welcoming me to your schools and departments over the last several months as I’ve toured the district and shared updates on the district’s budget. By winter break, I will have concluded my tour and want to tell you how appreciative I am of your support and willingness to listen and help provide feedback and ideas on how we tackle the second year of budget challenges that lie ahead. Also, thank you to those who took time out of their busy day to share insights with me on what’s working, what’s not, and what things you want me to know through my Google form. You can still share your thoughts with me on that form here. I value your candor and honest feedback.

During my visit, I promised to keep you updated on our progress, and one of the biggest hurdles we face in communicating about the budget is helping others understand it. School funding is extremely complex. To assist with this, we have created a "Budget 101" guide and video. It explains our various funding sources, restrictions, and how we spend those funds to support student learning. The guide has been updated with the latest information for the 2023-24 school year, and you can find it, along with a Frequently Asked Questions document and the video, on our budget website: wenatcheeschools.org/budget.

With a better understanding of how the budget works, you will be better equipped to make suggestions on ways we can consider making additional reductions to balance our budget. In January, we will provide you with another chance to share your suggestions and ideas through an online questionnaire. The cabinet will review your responses as part of the budgeting process, and we need and value your input.

Kory

23-24 Budget FAQ

September 26: Budget Update #1

For more information on the district budget visit the budget website wenatcheeschools.org/budget