A Beginning-of-the-Year Update from BSD Operations and Finance

Dear Bellevue Families, 

We are thrilled to have launched the school year with joy, energy, and optimism across our schools. As the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, a big part of our work this year is to strengthen our finances and ensure we are on the path to restoring our reserves. As we do this work this year, we want to keep our community informed and engaged along the way, so, together, we are going to provide monthly updates on operations and finance starting with this one.

Here are key updates that we shared with the School Board at the September 4, 2025, School Board Meeting: 

Student Enrollment 

We’re pleased to share that total student enrollment following the first week of school exceeds 19,200 students, with increases in both resident and non-resident enrollment. This number is slightly higher than our enrollment was at this time last year and also puts us on track to meet our enrollment projections for the year — the number of students that we built our budget and staffing around.  

Class Sizes 

Thank you for your patience as we have been monitoring class sizes and enrollment these first few weeks of school. We are monitoring enrollment and class sizes daily and will make necessary adjustments by next week as we do our best to balance class sizes across the district. Because our enrollment is coming in as projected (not higher, not lower), the staffing we have allocated is the staffing we have to work with. Put simply, addressing high class sizes in one grade level or school requires reallocating staff from another grade or school. We know changes like this can be challenging, so we will be extra thoughtful in making and communicating these decisions. 

The Benefit of Non-Resident Students 

This year we have about 1,400 non-resident students in our schools. They are generating over 40 additional teachers in our schools and are helping to sustain programs, stabilize class sizes, strengthen our financial position, and enrich our district community with diverse experiences and perspectives. The impact of non-resident students on class sizes is negligible. If we didn’t have non-resident students, class sizes would be the same; however, we would have fewer teachers and elective offerings. 

Monthly Updates 

We are committed to transparency and accountability. For more detailed information, see the presentation we used in the Board study session. Following each monthly Finance and Operations report to the Board, we will provide a follow-up communication and update like this on bsd405.org and in the BSD News and Events e-newsletter. 

Above all, BSD remains a pillar of excellence and innovation, providing the high-quality educational experience that our families have come to expect and that every student deserves. With thoughtful planning, responsible management, and the strength of our community, BSD will continue its reputation for educational excellence.

With Appreciation, 

Dr. Heather Sánchez, Chief Operating Officer 
Mr. Loren Tillman, Interim Chief Financial Officer