As noted in the previous three Eye on Education publications, we are growing ever closer to knowing just how much we will be impacted by the state’s cuts to K-12 education. The one fact that we do have is that we will face reductions as a school district. In the past few weeks I have answered many questions regarding Washington State’s K-12 funding system. In this letter, I will attempt to succinctly answer a few of the most frequently asked questions.
Why isn’t Basic Education protected from reductions? Many aspects of education are considered basic while others are not. In an attempt to provide additional dollars to public education, our legislators over the years have provided "enhancements" such as the K-4 ratio and levy equalization. Unfortunately, these line items are subject to reductions despite the fact that they have been funded by our state for over twenty years. As a result today, a significant portion of state funding is not "legally" considered basic education.
Why are there so many cuts in K-12? Throughout the state, recent tax collections have dropped off so much that the state cannot continue to maintain existing programs at the current levels. Discretionary budgets are also shrinking, which in turn forces more reductions to K-12 education.
What cuts will the District make to address the loss in revenue? We continue to assess the potential cuts; however, no decisions have been made at this point. It is important that we begin preparing for the reduction of state support, and as a District we must anticipate the need to reduce programs and/or staff. I reiterate that as of now, these cuts are unknown. Last year’s fiscal reductions were somewhat alleviated by the federal back fill of stimulus monies; it is very unlikely that this will occur again. Prior to making any reduction decisions, the Board will be looking for input from all aspects of the community. At some point in the very near future we will be asking you to help us with the prioritization of programs. This will come in the form of forums and/or survey instruments. The difficulty for all lies in the knowledge that every program is important. That being the case, I maintain that this process will be painful.
As we gear up for a tense spring, please understand that this is a state issue being forced upon local school districts. Unfunded and partially funded mandates, along with an increase in legislated requirements, continue to strain our school system. Our locally collected levy monies are being used to sustain basic education rather than the "extras" that are not funded by the state. This only compounds the flexibility of our District to meet the needs and desires of our community.
As always, I thank you for your commitment and dedication to our great students, staff, and schools.
