A school board-appointed ad hoc committee tasked with finding ways to stabilize the district’s unpredictable finances has shifted its approach toward revenue generation, pivoting away from previous discussions centered on spending cuts.

The advisory group has convened three times since last fall. Members are analyzing an array of creative programs designed to supplement the school district budget by generating new revenue streams.

Among the leading concepts under review is recruitment of a foreign exchange program coordinator, allowing the district to directly sponsor visas for international students.

“Of the ideas discussed, the exchange student program appears to have the most potential,” Schools Superintendent Joshua Garrett said. “It could provide additional revenue while also enriching the educational experience and broadening perspectives for our students. But not every idea will make sense to pursue.”

Other prospective revenue generators under consideration include hiring a professional grant writer, organizing athletic camps and establishing volunteer-led adult community classes within the high school vocational shop.

“None of these things could be done before the next school year, but the committee is looking at the ones that would be most likely to be done sooner than later,” said second-grade teacher Aly Howell, who was picked to chair the committee.

“It feels good to be part of a committee that is looking at bringing in revenue instead of making cuts,” she said.

The group was established during a September 2025 school board work session originally intended to explore long-term fiscal strategies and gather community feedback. Initial efforts focused heavily on identifying potential budget cuts, with members ranking savings options by operational feasibility.

Among those early proposals was a consolidation plan at Evergreen Elementary School to move all of the grades into one building, which could save an estimated $100,000 a year.

However, Garrett indicated all of last year’s suggested cuts represented a mere 2% of the district’s $6 million budget. Determining the financial impact to be negligible, he challenged the group to pivot from austerity to financial growth. 

The committee included members of the public and the superintendent.

Garrett expressed optimism regarding the collaborative effort to identify new funding sources without compromising educational quality.

“The ad hoc committee deserves credit for investing time and energy into thinking creatively about the district's financial future,” the superintendent said in a June 8 interview. “I really appreciate the work that they have done.”

He also emphasized that any concept advanced by the panel will undergo rigorous administrative scrutiny before implementation.

“The final report will present preliminary ideas, and any of the ideas that move forward will be fully fleshed out by the district office and require board comment and perhaps approval,” he said.

“Our focus is on opportunities that have the possibility to generate significant revenue for the district and align with our mission, benefit students and provide a meaningful return in proportion to the district’s investment of time and resources.”