No Bellevue middle schools will close — for now

The Bellevue School District has decided it won’t close or consolidate any of its middle schools, to the relief of many families.

Superintendent Kelly Aramaki announced the recommendation at a Thursday school board meeting, a month earlier than expected, to thunderous applause. Aramaki said the district will revisit the issue in two years.

Earlier this fall, district officials launched a middle school consolidation study, hiring two demographers to examine enrollment trends over the next eight years at Bellevue’s five middle schools and whether downsizing would allow the district to better maintain existing programs and services for students.

Facing a steep budget deficit and a 10% decline in enrollment over the last three years, the district closed two elementary schools — Wilburton and Eastgate — earlier this year, despite many parents' and students' protests.

Although district officials hadn't yet announced whether they would shutter any schools or which could be affected, families had already been protesting at school board meetings and putting up signs across the city in opposition of more school closures.

On Thursday, Aramaki said Bellevue's budget situation this year isn't as dire as officials had once feared. Because of savings from last year's closures and a slight enrollment increase, Aramaki said the projected deficit for next year is down to $9.8 million. Previous estimates had put it at $10 million.

In addition, Aramaki said the middle school consolidation study revealed the middle schools are currently large enough to operate effectively and efficiently, and projected enrollment declines aren’t yet impacting middle schools the way they have at the elementary level.

Still, the district isn’t out of the weeds financially. Aramaki acknowledged finding $10 million of budget cuts “will not be easy and will likely be just as challenging as considering school consolidation.”

Next month, Aramaki said he’ll work with the school board to develop a community engagement process as the district looks to tighten its belt. At the same time, he said district staff will be advocating at the state level for increased funding — especially fully funding special education. Currently, special education in Bellevue is underfunded by about $30 million.