KELLOGG — The Kellogg School District held a public workshop Wednesday night to discuss the district’s financial outlook and the changes that could occur if officials are unable to close a growing budget shortfall. 

The meeting followed the failure of the district’s two-year, $7 million replacement supplemental levy in November 2025, when 53.77% of voters opposed the measure. 

District leaders opened the workshop to questions from the public, with much of the discussion focused on whether the levy will be placed back on the ballot and what programs and positions could be cut if it is not renewed or fails a second time. 

In Idaho, public schools are funded using average daily attendance, which is converted into “instructional units” based on how many teachers and staff a district is expected to need. Each instructional unit is funded at a set amount determined by the Legislature. 

Kellogg is funded for 59.5 instructional units but currently employs 71. 

Statewide, state and federal funds account for an average of 79% of district budgets, with the remaining 21% coming from local levies. Kellogg relies on voter-approved local funding for roughly 30% of its annual budget. 

That 30% funds many non-mandated programs and positions, representing between 50 and 70 employees, including 12 certified teachers, according to Superintendent Lance Pearson. 

Many potentially affected employees have already been notified that their positions may not be available next school year, though district officials say they are hopeful the community will provide support. 

“We have been meeting as an administrative staff since this happened (the levy failure) and we’re coming with some ideas on how to cut $3.5 million from our budget,” Pearson said. “These are all bad ideas. These are the best of the bad ideas that we’ve come up with. Nobody in here wants to make these cuts. Right now, because the levy didn’t pass, we don’t have a choice.” 

Programs facing possible cuts include extracurricular activities and sports, technology, full-day kindergarten, transportation, custodial services, instructional materials and classroom supplies, support staff, including paraprofessionals, the district nurse and bus aides, and utilities. Additional programs and positions that could be affected include elementary physical education and music, the high school JROTC program, and a variety of advanced and elective courses. 

Full-day kindergarten drew particular concern during the discussion. Finance Manager Danielle Estill and Transportation Manager Michelle Tryon said that if the district were forced to return to the state-approved half-day model, Kellogg would not be able to fund midday transportation. That would require working parents to pick up students and arrange childcare for the remainder of the day. 

School Board Chair Alexa Griffin said no decision has been made on whether the district will re-run the levy in May. That determination will be made at the March board meeting. 

“None of this is a fun conversation,” Griffin said. “This is not the place any of us wanted to be. We have had support year over year for a long time and I think we took that for granted a bit. We have to hypothetically move forward without this money and what that looks like in the hopes that this was all a waste of our time to have this conversation.” 

A video of the full workshop is available on the Kellogg School District’s website.