By Bill Reynolds
La Conner Community News
Two weeks after adopting a fiscal blueprint for the upcoming academic year, La Conner School Board members officially closed the books on the 2025-26 term at their Aug. 10 session by adopting a budget extension reflecting unanticipated revenues and expenses related to new grant awards.
The board unanimously amended its 2025-26 budget to include $734,018 in added income and increased its expenditure capacity by $1.366 million.
“The state allows budget amendments if there are unforeseen circumstances that arise,” La Conner Schools Superintendent David Cram explained prior to the board action.
The budget extension was necessary in light of new special education-related revenues and expenses. The school district received a boost in its state “Safety Net” funding, and anticipates receiving more of those monies going forward, most notably to pay classroom paraprofessionals assigned to aid individual students.
Created in 1995 by the state legislature, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) Safety Net Program provides additional funding to local schools that demonstrate a need for special education funding beyond what is available through state and federal sources.
The La Conner Schools 2025-26 budget extension projects an ending fund balance of $543,434, a figure slightly higher than what was previously anticipated for the start of the 2026-27 school year.
“The net result is to add to our fund balance,” said board member John Agen. “That’s a positive.”
The budget amendment resolution Cram presented to the board states that the district’s fund balance plus anticipated revenues are sufficient to provide for any additional expenditures.
The 2026-27 La Conner Schools fiscal year begins Sept. 1, which coincides with the day fall classes convene here.
The back-to-school vibe will be evident well beforehand, having begun with the annual Back-to-School Bash Aug. 12 at John K. Bob Ballpark on Swinomish Reservation.
La Conner High football practice kicks off Aug. 19. Pre-season practices for the Braves’ volleyball, boys’ soccer, and girls’ soccer teams get under way Aug. 24.
Braves Day, when La Conner secondary students receive their laptops and preliminary class schedules, is set for Aug. 21 from 3-6 p.m.
The school district’s open house event is scheduled Aug. 31 from 5-6:30 p.m.
The La Conner Schools staff that will greet students this fall includes new district nurse Brenda Goebel, who will be on campus Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The board also announced the hiring of teacher Ryan Wolslegel in the district’s Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) Program.
Bill Reynolds is a general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.
