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North Franklin School District faces financial challenges

May 29, 2025

By: Katherine Trowbridge

Like many school districts across Washington state, the North Franklin School District is facing significant financial challenges as it prepares its budget for the 2025–26 school year. The strain on school budgets is being felt statewide, and North Franklin is no exception.

For the past five years, districts have relied on temporary federal COVID relief funds known as ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) to help close budget gaps and maintain operations. With those funds no longer available as of the 2024–25 school year, schools are now being forced to confront structural financial imbalances that have been building over time.

"School districts are essentially operating like households, everything is just costing more," said North Franklin Superintendent Brian Moore.

Several compounding factors are contributing to the financial strain. One of the most significant is declining enrollment, driven by smaller birth rates. School districts have seen smaller kindergarten classes year after year, directly impacting the funding districts receive from the state. North Franklin has seen enrollment shrink by 50 students over the last 5 years. That is equal to roughly $500,000 lost in state funding (about $10,000 per student).

Read full article on Franklin County Graphic >>

The Franklin County Graphic (FCG) is a locally owned and operated, weekly source of community news and information across Franklin County. The Franklin County Graphic is a Legal Newspaper (approved January 11, 1955).

Franklin County Graphic / News - 05/30/2025

NFSD Superintendent announces retirement

By: Katherine Trowbridge

February 29, 2024

At their regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 26, the board of directors for the North Franklin School District (NFSD) accepted the resignation of Superintendent Jim Jacobs, effective June 30, 2024.

Superintendent Jacobs has led the NFSD for the past six years. Throughout his 27-year career in the district, Jacobs has served in numerous positions, including teacher, summer school director, elementary principal, junior high principal, superintendent and regional representative to the WASA Board of Directors.

Jacobs’ motto is “Kids First, Education Always,” and this shows in his relationships with students, staff and parents throughout the years, a district press release stated.

The board of directors accepted the resignation with a very reluctant sigh of yes during their board meeting held Monday, Feb. 26 after the motion was made by Patti Walker with the words, “Reluctantly and with great sadness…”

Jim Jacobs told the board, “It’s been a great career. I’ve either been serving my country or this district for the past 32 years. I’m just tired.” He went on to share that he is not seeking employment elsewhere. The board did ask if he would still drive school buses, to which he replied, “if needed.”

On behalf of the NFSD Board of Directors, Chairperson Terry Utecht stated, “It’s hard to imagine the North Franklin School District without Jim Jacobs in it, as he has served in many different aspects for over 27 years. The district has been blessed with Jim’s dedicated leadership for the past six years. He is a true leader in every sense of the word. The board is deeply saddened to see him go, but we are confident that the district is in a very healthy position which will help facilitate a smooth transition. We are excited to see what opportunities lie ahead for Jim and his family.”

Read full article on Franklin County Graphic >>

The Franklin County Graphic (FCG) newspaper opened in 1954 under founding editor Dave Adams to fulfill the need for community news. Today, it continues as a locally owned and operated, weekly source of community news and information across Franklin County.

Franklin County Graphic / News - 03/01/2024