If your kids are in North Mason schools right now — at North Mason High School, Hawkins Middle School, or the elementary campuses in Belfair and Belfair’s surrounding neighborhoods — Tuesday’s election results matter directly to what their school year looks like starting in September.
The North Mason School District’s April 28 replacement levy is trailing in initial Mason County Auditor counts: 46.2% yes (1,566 votes) against 53.8% no (1,814 votes). If that holds through certification, it’s three consecutive levy defeats — February 2025, November 2025, now April 2026 — and the program cuts the district has been warning about become real for the 2026–27 school year.
Which Programs Are at Risk
The district has been explicit about what levy funding covers — and what disappears without it. For North Mason parents, the list is not abstract:
- Athletics: The Bulldog program at North Mason High School — varsity, JV, and middle school sports — is levy-funded. No levy, no sports as currently structured.
- Music: Band, choir, and music electives at the middle and high school level are at risk.
- Advanced Placement courses: North Mason High’s AP offerings — the classes that let students earn college credit before graduation — depend on levy funding for staffing.
- Elective courses: The range of electives that let students pursue interests beyond core academics.
- Security officers: Campus security at North Mason schools is levy-funded.
- After-school programs: Extended learning and enrichment activities funded through the levy.
The district has already made $1.3 million in internal cuts — including two administrative positions — ahead of this vote. There is no remaining cushion to absorb another defeat without cutting programs.
The Timeline Parents Need to Know
Election night counts are not final. The Mason County Auditor will continue counting remaining ballots for several weeks before certifying results. That certification date matters because the district must build and adopt its 2026–27 budget before fall semester begins — and the budget must be balanced by law.
If the levy is certified as defeated, district administrators and the board will need to announce program cuts with enough lead time for families and student-athletes to plan. Decisions about fall sports rosters, AP course offerings, and staffing assignments for next year will be made this summer.
The practical question for North Mason families: don’t wait for formal announcements if you have a student committed to a fall sport, enrolled in AP classes, or counting on specific electives. Watch the district’s communications at northmasonschools.org closely over the next four to six weeks.
What Parents Can Do Now
Results are not certified. If you want to make your voice heard on what happens next, the path is through the North Mason School Board. Board meetings are public. School board members represent your community’s priorities — this is the right venue to show up, speak, and be counted before cuts are finalized.
Check the district’s website for the next board meeting date and agenda. Public comment is available at every regular session.
Read the full election results story at the Belfair Bugle’s levy coverage. For context on how North Mason’s schools compare to neighboring districts, see our full levy explainer from before the vote.
Frequently Asked Questions for North Mason Parents
Will North Mason High School sports be cut if the levy fails?
The Bulldog athletics program at North Mason High — including varsity and JV sports — is levy-funded and explicitly listed among programs at risk if the levy fails. Middle school athletics would also be affected.
Are AP classes at North Mason High at risk?
Yes. Advanced Placement course offerings at North Mason High School are listed as levy-dependent. A third consecutive levy failure would put AP staffing and course availability at risk for the 2026–27 school year.
When will we know for sure if the North Mason levy failed?
The Mason County Auditor certifies election results within several weeks of election night after all remaining ballots are counted. Initial results on election night are unofficial.
When would program cuts take effect?
Cuts would be implemented for the 2026–27 school year, which begins in fall 2026. The district must adopt a balanced budget before the school year starts, so program decisions will be made this summer.
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