Seattle Public Schools will not consider school closures for the 2026-27 school year as it addresses an $87 million budget shortfall, though new superintendent Ben Shuldiner said everything must be on the table for future years.
Only days into his role, Shuldiner joined school board directors and district leaders Wednesday for a budget work session to discuss the deficit. In a board meeting the week prior, directors received a presentation on steps SPS has already taken to address budget struggles and what is being considered for upcoming school years.
Money-saving solutions discussed by SPS staff focused outside the classroom, including continuing a hiring freeze, furthering reductions to central office services, and reducing senior administration. However, other considerations would directly impact students and families. “It’s a lot of money, and we are in the hole,” Shuldiner said. “The first thing we have to do is stop spending money we don’t have.”
As officials draft a proposed budget for 2026-27, the presentation lists class size increases and changes to the district’s portfolio of schools as realignments not being considered at this time. Despite this, Shuldiner shared takeaways from schools he visited in his first week, noting “misuse of facility space and staffing.” “I was at a school that had one child in a classroom. Two adults. That can’t possibly be okay,” he said.
When asked if school closures or consolidations would be reconsidered for years after 2026-27, Shuldiner said they absolutely would be. “Everything needs to be on the table. You don’t want me to be your superintendent and then pretend like there’s all these things that we can’t touch.”
The district is considering mandatory “Pay to Play” fees for school sports starting in 2026-27. To generate approximately $2.6 million, district officials are exploring participation fees of $150-$250 per sport, $300-$450 for two sports, and a $400-$550 cap for three sports. Fee waiver systems would remain available to qualifying families. Shuldiner told KOMO News he hated the idea of participation fees. “My dream is that we take away fees. My hope is that we’re certainly not going to add to them.” Other solutions being considered include adjusting school start times to limit buses needed, reducing athletic programs, and focusing staffing priorities on direct services to students.
