Nine is fine! Lake Washington School District budget earns Meritorious Budget Award

  Award reflects District’s goal of fiscal responsibility

Redmond, Wash. – Lake Washington School District’s (LWSD’s) 2025-26 Budget has earned the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) Meritorious Budget Award (MBA). This award promotes and recognizes excellence in budget development, communication, and presentation in school districts. LWSD has received this award nine years in a row. LWSD is the only district in the state of Washington to receive this award.

ASBO International’s MBA and Pathway to the MBA promote and recognize best budget presentation practices in school districts. Participants submit their applications and budget documents to a panel of school financial professionals who review the materials for compliance with the MBA Criteria Checklist and other requirements and provide expert feedback that districts can use to improve their budget documents.

Districts that successfully demonstrate they have met the necessary program requirements may earn either the MBA or Pathway to the MBA, an introductory program that allows districts to ease into full MBA compliance.

"We are honored to receive this award for the ninth consecutive year,” said Dr. Jon Holmen, Superintendent. “Even in the current environment of funding challenges, we strive to enhance our communication about the district’s budget with our community. We work to make sure our budget process is transparent and easy for everyone in our community to understand."

"Lake Washington School District uses public resources wisely, and it’s important to us that our community can easily see how those dollars support our students,” said Barbara Posthumus, Associate Superintendent of Business and Support Services. “Our budget summary is designed to give everyone a clear, straightforward look at how tax dollars are put to work in our schools.”

“The Lake Washington School District Board of Directors is grateful for the hard work completed by our Financial Services Department to earn this recognition for the ninth consecutive year,” said LWSD Board President Lisa Guthrie. “The district’s commitment to producing an accessible and informative budget document is essential, as it ensures transparency in how we allocate taxpayer dollars to support our schools.”

“An effective school budget is more than just numbers – it’s a vital tool for building trust and engaging the community,” said Jim Rowan, CAE, SFO, Executive Director of ASBO International. “The Meritorious Budget Award recognizes districts like Lake Washington School District that prioritize financial clarity and accountability. We commend their dedication to upholding nationally recognized budget presentation standards.”

You can view the 2025-26 budget on the LWSD website.

For more information about the Meritorious Budget Award or Pathway to the MBA, visit asbointl.org/MBA.

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About Lake Washington: Lake Washington School District is a high-performing public school district serving Kirkland, Redmond, and Sammamish, Washington. It is the second-largest district in the state of Washington, with over 30,100 students in 55 schools.