The Beaverton School District wants families to help shape how it closes a projected $42 million budget gap. An online survey and three November community meetings give residents a direct say.

The survey and meetings are part of Strong & Sustainable Beaverton, a planning initiative the district describes as a 12- to 14-month effort to align BSD's facilities, attendance boundaries and budget with its shrinking student population.

The survey is anonymous. It is hosted on a platform called Thought Exchange and closes Sunday, Nov. 22. It poses three questions, asking what parts of the student experience should be preserved, what the district should consider when making budget and staffing decisions, and what ideas community members have for building a sustainable budget. Participants can also rate other respondents' ideas.

The district is hosting three engagement events, all at 6 p.m.:

  • Thursday, Nov. 12, at Southridge High School
  • Monday, Nov. 16, virtual (link to be posted on the BSD website)
  • Wednesday, Nov. 18, at Westview High School

The Westview session is the closest event for Bethany, Cedar Mill and Oak Hills families. The survey and event details were posted on the BSD website on Monday, Nov. 2.

Why the district says it needs input

BSD's enrollment peaked at 40,629 students in fall 2019. Seven consecutive years of decline have brought that number down to 35,351 for 2026-27, a drop of 5,278 students, or 13%, according to district enrollment data. Enrollment fell by 916 students from the prior year alone.

The district attributes the decline primarily to falling birth rates. Enrollment is projected to drop by another 3,000 to 7,000 students over the next decade.

That enrollment slide has deepened a structural deficit. BSD projects a $42.1 million shortfall for 2027-28, growing to $46.3 million in 2028-29 and $60.1 million in 2029-30, according to district figures. The current-year gap stands at $17.3 million.

Chief Financial Officer Jessica Jones recommended at a September 2026 board work session that the district spend about $20 million in reserves each year over the next three years to slow the impact while reducing costs. Under that plan, BSD would need to cut roughly $22 million from its general fund for 2027-28, about 3% of the total budget, with additional reductions in later years.

The district holds nearly $168 million in reserves. But Jones said the structural deficit and continued enrollment decline mean the district "cannot continue relying on reserves to bridge the gap year after year," according to district records.

Superintendent frames 'hard choices'

In an Oct. 15 message to families, Superintendent Dr. Tony Smith wrote that the process "requires us to lean into honest conversations about our enrollment realities and budgetary constraints." He added that the district "cannot shy away from the forthright dialogue and hard choices required to stabilize our finances and align our resources with our student population …"

Smith said the district is beginning a process, not announcing predetermined solutions. Board Chair Justice Rajee and the board indicated they intend to engage the community in developing recommendations, according to district records.

Families can find the survey link at beaverton.k12.or.us.