A Message from Superintendent Dr. James Everett
We will be presenting our final budget for the 2026-27 school year to the school board on May 27 during our regularly scheduled meeting. Meetings are open to the public and begin at 5 p.m. in the library at Meridian Middle School. You can view the budget documents on BoardDocs or visit our budget webpage. Meetings are livestreamed and recorded on YouTube, and I encourage you to tune in to hear Director of Business and Finance Daniel Yorton’s presentation.
While we are grateful to have avoided significant cuts or staff reductions through the reduction-in-force (RIF) process, we continue to navigate challenging financial conditions. This has required difficult decisions such as leaving some positions unfilled as they become vacant. While these conditions are not ideal, they reflect the reality that our needs exceed available resources.
Even in these challenging times, our students are thriving in many ways, thanks to the hard work and commitment of our teachers and staff across the district.
Our state test scores in both math and English language arts have been steadily rising each year since 2021.
Irene Reither Elementary, Meridian Middle School and Meridian High School have all received various state recognitions for student growth, achievement and creating positive school cultures.
Our K-8 alternative learning experience, Meridian Parent Partnership Program (MP3), celebrated their 20 year anniversary and remains one of the longest-running and most sought-after programs in Washington State.
There is no shortage of positive stories about how our students are thriving in Meridian. Just imagine what we could achieve if the state adequately funded our schools.
We will continue to advocate for adequate state funding so that we can better meet the needs of all students. If you have questions or want to learn more about school finance, the WA School Funding website is a helpful resource.
Thank you for your continued partnership. Let’s finish this year strong.