School district losing students, funding

La Conner Schools will have to make do with less in the 2023-2024 academic year. District officials were facing that as they begin crafting next year’s budget at their April 10 board study session.

Declining enrollment, a smaller than anticipated apportionment of federal impact aid monies and the loss of emergency COVID-19-related funds will result in significant spending cuts, district finance director David Cram predicted in a report to school board members.

“We’re looking at a $1.5 million reduction in spending to get to a $500,000 fund balance,” said Cram. A fund balance equal to 10% of th...