District overview
Grand Coulee Dam School District 301-J
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
How Grand Coulee Dam schools are paid for and who decides
Grand Coulee Dam School District 301-J runs Lake Roosevelt Elementary, Lake Roosevelt Junior/Senior High and an alternative learning and online program in Coulee Dam, Washington. About two-thirds of students are Native American, many from the Colville Reservation, so federal Impact Aid and Indian Education money matter. Washington pays districts mostly by enrolled full-time students, so the drop from about 610 to 524 students in one year cut revenue sharply. The board declared budget emergencies for 2025-26 and 2026-27 and adopted a 'Reduced Education Program' with fewer class sections and staff. A five-member elected board, led by Chair Shannon Nicholson, sets the budget and hires the superintendent, Rod Broadnax.
Planned deficit
The 2025-26 general fund budget planned $15.99M in spending against $13.84M in revenue, a gap of about $2.15M.
Enrollment drop
Full-time enrollment fell from 609.77 in October 2025 to 523.8 in September 2026.
Cuts underway
The junior/senior high runs with about 20 fewer class sections; Indian Education staff fell from three to two.
Elected board of five
Directors are elected in odd-year November elections; three took office in December 2025.
The general fund ended 2025-26 better than planned: the preliminary August report shows a fund balance of about $2.09M, well above the budgeted $343,000.
Where the district stands
Calculation: $15.99M / about 610 students (2025-26). Context only.
Major projects
Budget reductions ('Reduced Education Program')
in effectThe board approved budget cuts in November 2025, emergency budget resolutions in December 2025 and March 2026, and a 2026-27 budget in July 2026.
- First budget cuts approved (3-2)
- 2026-27 emergency budget resolution
- 2026-27 budget adopted
Funding
General fund
Sale of the old middle school
offer pendingThe district is selling the closed old middle school through a broker.
- Board votes to move forward
- Broker hired; surplus resolution
- Offer approved with $1,170,000 counteroffer
Funding
Sale proceeds
Playground and weight room
under constructionA new playground and a high school weight room upgrade are underway.
- $200,000 weight room grant reported
- Playground contract approved
Funding
Capital projects fund (playground about $400,000); $200,000 state grant (weight room)
Recent news
Board agendas, minutes and monthly financial reports posted on the district website (October 27, 2025 through October 21, 2026). Many minutes are scans read with OCR.
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