Parents Say Cuts Disproportionately Harm Students Without Private Options
Edmond, WA – The Edmond School District is allegedly facing a second consecutive year of budget shortfalls, and officials are proposing deep cuts that would eliminate all elementary school band and orchestra programs, as well as middle school sports. Parents say the district has not been transparent about these decisions, leaving many blindsided by the potential impact on their children.
Attempts to reach district officials for comment were unsuccessful, as a call from Seattle Today News was disconnected, and follow-up questions went unanswered.
Parents: “They’re Taking Away Valuable Resources”
For parents like Tami, the proposed cuts feel like a devastating blow to students who rely on these programs.
“One of my children is in elementary school and was planning on doing band in sixth grade—this will not happen if cuts are made. My other child is in middle school and would miss out on softball and track next year. At this age, it is incredibly difficult to find sports outside of school unless you can pay hundreds of dollars a month for select teams,” Tami said.
Parents argue that these cuts will hit lower-income families the hardest.
“Private music lessons are very expensive, and not something most parents can afford. The same goes for sports. These cuts are taking away valuable resources from students who do not have private alternatives,” she added.
A Lack of Transparency?
Many parents are also frustrated with how the district has communicated these potential cuts.
“The district sent out messages about budget cuts and asked us to use the ‘Balancing Act’ tool, but they did not say what was actually on the chopping block unless you opened the tool yourself,” Tami explained.
The announcement about additional music cuts only came up at an orchestra concert, while news of the sports cuts was first spotted on a parent’s Facebook post.
“I was so disheartened to see that the music cuts they already made last year are going to be made even worse,” she said.
Budget Crisis and the “Balancing Act” Tool
The district invited parents to use a tool called Balancing Act to explore possible ways to adjust the budget, but many say it felt like the outcome was already decided.
“There was essentially no way to balance the budget without cutting school sports and the music program,” Tami noted.
Beyond the immediate impact, parents are also asking bigger questions about accountability.
“The district has not explained how long these cuts will last, how long they have known about the budget shortfall, or if anyone is being held responsible for the millions of dollars in deficits over the past few years,” she said.
What’s Next?
The school board is expected to discuss the budget cuts in an upcoming meeting, but the exact date has not been widely publicized. Parents and students are mobilizing to fight back, urging the district to consider alternative solutions.
