On Tuesday night, March 24, 2026, Evergreen Public Schools' board in Vancouver signed off on a sweeping round of budget cuts that will wipe out the district's fifth grade band and orchestra program and trim dozens of teaching and administrative positions. District leaders described the move as painful but necessary to close a multi‑million‑dollar shortfall, with the reductions set to take effect in the 2026–27 school year.
Parents and staff packed the boardroom, urging directors to look anywhere else before cutting music. One parent, Angie Bunda, told board members the fifth grade band was "dear to my daughter's heart," while teachers argued that any cuts should start higher up in the administration, according to KATU. The final vote drew audible groans and frustration from community members who insisted that early music education keeps kids connected to school.
District officials say Evergreen is staring down a projected 12 to 14 million dollar shortfall tied to lower state funding, inflation and continued enrollment declines. Evergreen Public Schools served about 22,000 students in 2024–25 and has warned that its fund balance could slip below board policy levels without significant reductions, according to Evergreen Public Schools. The district estimates its reserves could fall to roughly 2.5% by the end of 2025–26 unless changes are made.
What Was Cut
The board's budget package officially eliminates the districtwide fifth grade band and orchestra program and authorizes dozens of staffing reductions across classrooms and the central office, with the savings aimed at closing next year's budget gap. Board members repeatedly called the choices difficult but framed them as one step in a longer multi‑year plan to steady Evergreen's finances, as reported by KATU. Some educators warned that cutting off music at fifth grade could weaken the pipeline into middle and high school band and orchestra programs.
Regional Trend And Deadline
What is happening in Evergreen is not an isolated hit. The cuts mirror a broader financial squeeze across Clark County and the Portland metro area, where multiple districts are racing to close multi‑million‑dollar gaps as enrollment and state funding sag. Evergreen is looking at mid‑to‑low‑double‑digit millions in reductions while neighboring Vancouver Public Schools faces an even larger deficit, according to OPB. State law also sets a hard calendar: districts that plan to reduce credentialed teachers have to file the required paperwork by May 15.
Funding And Next Steps
District leaders note that voters did approve replacement levies in 2025, but they say those local dollars were already spoken for and cannot fully plug the current budget hole. Levy funds are being used to support special education and enrichment programs, according to Evergreen Public Schools. The newly approved cuts are described as part of a multi‑year budget strategy to balance the books and rebuild reserves to comply with Board Policy No. 6022.
Evergreen officials say they will hold additional community conversations and budget hearings in the coming weeks as staffing and program details are finalized. Parents who want to track the process or speak at upcoming meetings can find schedules and public comment sign‑up instructions on the district's Board of Directors page. Regular meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Administrative Service Center, and the board's online calendar and document library will outline next steps for adopting the 2026–27 budget and any mitigation or appeal plans. For now, families and music supporters say they plan to keep pressing the district to look for alternatives as the plan is locked in.
