Decision on whether to dissolve rural WA school district in financial crisis
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- State rescinds dissolution petition after community raises $1M via levy and fundraisers.
- Prescott must write a balanced budget and remains under enhanced financial oversight.
- Prescott serves 230 students, employs 50 and is the town's largest employer.
Prescott schools have been saved.
Washington Superintendent Chris Reykdal said in a letter made public Thursday that he rescinded his petition to dissolve the rural Walla Walla County school district.
It’s a pivotal decision for the struggling Prescott School District, which had its budget battered by several years of alleged budget mismanagement and mounting debt.
After Reykdal recommended dissolving the school district in January, the Prescott community rallied to pass a temporary tax increase, host prime rib fundraisers and lobby lawmakers, in order to raise the $1 million needed to stay open for next school year.
“This is a testament to the resilience of our students, staff and community, who have stood by our school,” said Prescott Superintendent Jeff Foertsch. “While this is an important milestone, we know our work continues as we focus on long-term stability and providing the best possible education for all Prescott students.”
The district would have closed as early as June if the community had not stepped in, and students would have been forced to attend neighboring Columbia-Burbank or Waitsburg school districts.
“While this is great news for the school district and the surrounding community, there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that the actual fiscal performance over the next 12 to 18 months reflects the path toward sustainable fiscal health,” Reykdal said in his letter to Educational Service District 123.
Prescott will remain under enhanced financial oversight for the next school year, and the state will continue to monitor and scrutinize the district’s financial situation.
It will still be required to write a balanced budget for next school year to cover its ongoing debts and current programs without relying on future revenues.
“Congratulations to the Prescott community on supporting the district during these challenging times,” Reykdal wrote. “Without the local fundraising and the overwhelming support of the levy in February, we would not be celebrating this success.”
Prescott serves 230 students and employs 50. It is the single largest employer in the old railroad community, which was first settled in 1859.
About two-thirds of its students come from low-income backgrounds, and 43% of its students are English language learners. Most of its students are the children of orchard and fruit processing workers and live along the Snake River in the FirstFruits Vista Hermosa housing community.
State Sen. Perry Dozier, R-Waitsburg, graduated in 1977 from Prescott High School and was quarterback for the school’s 1975 championship team.
He said on Thursday that he was “elated” to hear that the school will continue to act as a hub for rural communities.
Dozier called the actions of Prescott and Vista Hermosa residents “heroic,” and said they “very persuasive” to lawmakers in Olympia this session.
“While I agree with Superintendent Reykdal that there is still work to do – and to me that includes accountability for the people who caused this crisis by failing to act like responsible public servants – let’s take a moment and celebrate this huge accomplishment,” he said in a statement.
This story is breaking and will be updated.
This story was originally published March 26, 2026 at 10:31 AM.
