The stakes surrounding Battle Ground Public Schools’ Proposition 11 extend beyond the November election and could eventually affect families, property owners, and neighboring school districts throughout Clark County.
At an October 8 levy information session, TJ Kelly, chief financial officer for the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), explained the state’s process for intervening when a school district faces serious financial difficulties.
According to the information presented at the meeting, another failed levy would place Battle Ground Public Schools on a path toward state financial oversight. The district’s financial information, expected to be submitted in December, will help determine the level of intervention.
On Oct. 8, BGPS held a levy information night to share information about Proposition 11, the student safety and academic support levy
TJ Kelly, chief financial officer from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, discussed the state’s role in overseeing school districts facing significant financial challenges. As a school districtβs financial condition worsens, state control increases.
Slides from the nights presentation are below.
Listen to a conversation with Kelly about this process on the BG CAST podcast:
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Washington has a process for addressing school district financial distress.
One level involves what OSPI calls “binding conditions.” Under these conditions, districts must meet financial requirements and receive additional state oversight while retaining responsibility for many local decisions.
Vancouver Public Schools is currently operating under binding conditions.
A more serious level involves a Financial Oversight Committee composed of representatives from OSPI and educational service districts, rather than members of the affected district’s administration or school board.
Under enhanced financial oversight, the state can exercise substantially greater control over financial decisions, including spending.
If a district cannot develop a viable financial plan and becomes financially insolvent, dissolution becomes the outcome.
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Dissolution is not an automatic consequence of a failed levy. However, a sufficient school levy is necessary for Battle Ground Public Schools to develop and maintain a balanced budget. Dissolution becomes the outcome if a district remains unable to develop a balanced financial plan after two years under enhanced state financial oversight and cannot demonstrate a viable path toward financial recovery.
Dissolution would not necessarily mean that school buildings close or that students lose access to public education.
Instead, the district’s territory would be divided among neighboring school districts. Existing schools could continue operating under different district administrations and school boards.
The implications would extend far beyond Battle Ground.
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Battle Ground Public Schools shares boundaries with Vancouver, Evergreen, Washougal, Ridgefield, La Center, Hockinson, and Woodland school districts.
If the Battle Ground school district were dissolved, neighboring districts would be required to absorb portions of its territory, students, facilities, and responsibilities under a state-approved reorganization plan.
Such a change could affect enrollment, transportation, staffing, school board representation, and long-term financial planning.
Residents of neighboring districts therefore have a stake in understanding what happens to Battle Ground Public Schools, even though they do not vote on Proposition 11.
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One potentially overlooked consequence involves local school property taxes.
Battle Ground school district has historically had the lowest total local school property tax rate among Clark County’s Kβ12 districts, and the rate proposed under Proposition 11 would remain the lowest.
If the Battle Ground school district were dissolved and portions of its territory absorbed by neighboring districts, property owners would become subject to different voter-approved school taxes.
Because neighboring districts currently have higher local school tax rates, dissolution could result in higher school property taxes for some Battle Ground school district property owners. Actual changes would depend on the receiving district.
A failed levy does not necessarily guarantee lower school taxes over the long term.
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Washington’s Constitution identifies education as the state’s “paramount duty.”
Yet school districts also depend on voter-approved local levies to support programs, staffing, and services that state allocations do not fully cover.
The share of Washington’s operating budget allocated to Kβ12 public education has declined from approximately 51.6% in the 2019β21 budget to 43.2% in the 2025β27 budget, a decrease of 8.4 percentage points.
That does not mean total education spending fell by 8.4%. It means Kβ12 education accounts for a smaller share of the overall operating budget while it is deemed Washington state’s paramount duty.
OSPI has also reported that inflation-adjusted state funding per student has declined by approximately $250 since its 2019 peak.
At the same time, districts face rising expenses for insurance, utilities, fuel, supplies, staffing, and other essential operations.
State requirements can also create financial pressure when the funding provided does not fully cover the cost of mandated services.
These are statewide funding issues that individual school districts cannot resolve independently.
Responsibility for addressing those structural concerns rests in significant part with the Washington Legislature, including lawmakers representing the Battle Ground school district area.
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For many households, rising property taxes and housing costs create genuine financial challenges.
Washington offers property tax relief programs for qualifying homeowners, including certain seniors, people with disabilities, and veterans.
Residents concerned about affordability can review those programs through the Clark County Assessor’s Office.
Questions about Proposition 11, district spending, and financial projections can be directed to Battle Ground Public Schools. The district has published levy information, tax estimates, and budget explanations for public review.
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The November 3rd vote will be an important factor in determining the district’s financial path.
The consequences of continued financial distress could extend well beyond immediate budget reductions, potentially affecting district boundaries, local governance, and property taxes.
Residents deserve clear information about both the proposed levy and the potential consequences of continued financial instability.
The discussion is not simply about one election. It is about the long-term future of public education in north Clark County.
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For those who want to help get Proposition 11 passed, there is an upcoming opportunity to volunteer. You do NOT have to live within the Battle Ground Public Schools boundaries to participate. Volunteers from neighboring school districts and surrounding communities are welcome!
A door-hanger distribution event supporting Proposition 11 is scheduled for Saturday, October 17.
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Saturday, October 17, 2026
β° 8:30β11:30 a.m.
π Tapani Inc., 1705 SE 9th St., Battle Ground
Volunteers will distribute informational door hangers throughout the Battle Ground School District. No door knocking or conversations with residents are required.
Volunteer signup link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4BAEA92CA3FEC34-66346362-door#/
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