Olympia families facing cuts to programs, services, and staffing next school year will get their first chance to address the school board since it voted on the 2026-27 budget in June.

The Olympia School District Board of Directors meets at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 16, at the Knox Administrative Building. Families who want to speak during public comment must sign up by 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, through the district's online form. Walk-in and phone sign-ups are not accepted.

What's at stake

The board held a first reading of the 2026-27 budget on Thursday, June 18, followed by a public hearing and a vote scheduled for June 25. That budget reflects what Superintendent Patrick Murphy has called a structural mismatch between costs and revenue.

"While we appreciate the investments the (Washington) Legislature has made over the last several years, those investments have not kept pace with the actual costs of operating schools," Murphy said during the June budget process.

The district's budget book projects a beginning general fund balance of $7,692,322 and an ending fund balance of $8,412,765 for the 2026-27 school year.

Murphy has warned that this year's reductions will not be the last, citing declining enrollment as the district's most significant financial challenge. The budget book states that as long as enrollment declines and expenditure growth outpaces revenues, the district will face difficult decisions regarding programs, services, and staffing levels.

Community group OSD4All has encouraged members to attend the July 16 meeting, noting the board may begin discussing 2027-28 budget planning.

How to attend or watch

The meeting is open to the public in person. Doors reopen at 6:20 p.m. after regular building hours end at 4:30 p.m.

Families who cannot attend may watch via Zoom livestream (Webinar ID: 811 1593 0661) or listen by phone at +1 253-215-8782.

Public comment details

Sign-ups opened at 9 a.m. Monday, July 14, and close at 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 15. The district accepts sign-ups only through its online Google Form. The final list of speakers will be posted Wednesday evening in BoardDocs under the "Opening" and "Closing" categories on the meeting page.

The full agenda is available on BoardDocs.

What comes next

Thursday's meeting is a regular session. Families who miss the public comment deadline can still attend or watch the livestream. The board's next actions on staffing and programs tied to the budget reductions will unfold over the coming months as enrollment numbers firm up for fall.