2025/26 Proposed Budget and Summary
View the proposed 2025/26 FOH budget
2025/26 Budget Development Process
The Friends of Hawthorne (FOH) budget for 2025-2026 was primarily developed by a budget committee, comprised of the FOH Treasurer’s (George Dugdale, Dana Troy), Principal Flavors, FOH President Molly Judge, and FOH Volunteers Cedric Walker, Steve Won, and Vivan Joshi.
The first step was receiving requests from school administration on their needs. For the upcoming academic year the highest priority was identified as additional support staffing, to help replace positions that were lost through Seattle Public Schools (SPS) reductions. Per SPS rules, FOH had to confirm these positions by the end of March 2025, and so the community meeting on March 18th , was focused on discussing these adds. Both requested positions were approved by the membership.
Following that meeting the budget committee met to discuss how to present a budget that balanced meeting the needs of the school and the community with preserving enough fund balance at the end of 2025-2026. This was supplemented with the formation of a fundraising committee and a final meeting with Ms Flavors to go over the draft budget.
The results of those discussions are shown here, and described by area below Budget Categories
Fundraising Friends of Hawthorne relies on the generosity of families and the wider community to support the range of programs we fund and deliver.
The overall fundraising goal was increased from $109,350 to $144,000. Meeting this goal will likely require a live auction event, other fundraising activities and the reintroduction of 5 th grade fundraising for the science camp. The fundraising committee will meet to map out exactly how these goals can be met, while keeping FOH activities focused on community events and inclusivity.
Overall change: increase of $34,650
Staffing Support Friends of Hawthorne currently provides direct funding for staff positions, due to reductions in funding following the loss of Title I funds, and reductions from SPS. This work complements advocacy at the state and local level for fully funded schools.
In the 2024-2025 school year, FOH supported a 1.0FTE Math Interventionist position. For 2025-26 school administration requested funding for two partial positions. The first increases an interventionist from 0.4FTE to 1.0 FTE to work across all grades. The second increases the School Counselor position from 0.5FTE to a 0.8FTE so that Hawthorne has a counselor 4 days per week. These increases were voted on by the community at the March 18 meeting.
The overall cost of staffing has decreased from a budgeted $220,000 in 2024-2025 to $136,000 in 2025-2026. Even with this reduction it is unlikely that FOH can continue to support staffing at this level in future years.
Overall change: reduction of $84,000
Community Building and Support Friends of Hawthorne helps to build and foster a schoolwide community by organizing and funding activities for the entire community, including events and supporting families in need of assistance.
Both school and PTA events are critical functions of FOH, and support for these programs remains at the level it was in 2024-2025. Likewise, showing appreciation for our teachers is critical to the community aspect of FOH. An increase in budget is included for family support as needs and costs have increased in recent years.
Overall change: $3,000 increase
In School Support Friends of Hawthorne provides support for specialist services, after school programs and other in school functions, to enrich the offerings available to students. The critical aspect of FOH activity includes support for the library, music and art, as well as in school programs.
Although most of this funding was protected, cost increases in some areas and the need to fund staff positions has led to reductions in funding for emerging needs and office supplies. The school is using existing funding to purchase office supplies for the coming school year.
Overall Change: $5,000 reduction
FOH Administration Friends of Hawthorne funds required administrative support in tax preparation, software, as well as board training in racial equity.
This budget area does not include discretionary items beyond the board anti-racist training, which remains a priority for Friends of Hawthorne.
Overall change: No change
Overall increase of $34,650 in fundraising and decrease of $86,000 in budgeted
2024/25 FOH Budget and Treasurer Reports
September 2024 revision: ensure there are enough funds for the ASE program, and to recognize higher revenue from Southeast Seattle Schools Fundraising Alliance (SESSFA) than was originally assumed.
May 2024 approval: unanimous vote at FOH’s May 2024 general membership meeting. The largest change was the addition of grant to the school to provide a math instructional position at the school. Beyond that position the PTA budget is focused on longstanding FOH priorities including in school events, After School Enrichment (ASE), support for student programs and field trips, as well family support.
Note: PTA expenses for in school activities are approved by Principal Flavors before the expense occurs to ensure that the help the PTA is providing to the school fits within the school’s priorities.
Next school year budget process
Every spring, the Budget Committee assembles a proposed budget for the following school year. The Committee provides a Budget Request Form (or download and print one here) to school staff, parents, and partners who have been funded by FOH in the past.
If you are the leader of a program or activity that was or will be funded by FOH, please contact us.
The budget committee will assemble the requests, estimate our available funds for next year, and present a draft budget at the April FOH Online Meeting for discussion. We anticipate leaving this meeting with clarification questions for applicants and affected stakeholders.
FOH is scheduled to formally vote on the budget at our General Meeting in May.