Schools

NSD Waits for Olympia's Budget

The district tries to plan next year's budget without knowing how deep cuts will be.

While legislators in Olympia struggle and debate passage of a proposed budget, uncertainty of what that will mean to local schools has the Northshore School District wondering what more could be cut.

The state’s budget may not be in place, but school districts already have to plan for next year, a difficult task when the budget is unknown.

In a message to the community, Superintendent Larry Francois discussed what the Northshore District is facing.

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While always challenging, planning has become increasingly difficult as the state struggles with a persistent and growing budget deficit-a projected $1.1 billion deficit for the remainder of the current two-year state budget cycle (2009-11) and $4.6 billion for the upcoming budget cycle (2011-13),” wrote Francois in an open letter on the district’s Website. “Two-thirds of our district's funding comes from the state. Consequently, decisions from Olympia have a great impact in Northshore.”

Enhanced staffing allocation to support lower class sizes in grades K-4 was eliminated at the beginning of February, according to Francois. As a result, the district will lose $1.1 million out of a total of $1.9 million that supports 23 additional K-4 teachers across Northshore School District. The Superintendent stated those classes and teachers will remain intact for the rest of this school year, but funding now comes from the district fund balance.

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“These ‘early action’ steps by the legislature did not address the entire $1.1 billion deficit in the current state budget,” Francois sates. “I anticipate that the legislature will take action very soon to address the remaining deficit. The Governor has proposed eliminating the K-4 enhanced staffing and all highly capable funding retroactive to the beginning of the school year. This would result in an additional loss of $1 million in current year funding, which would be further absorbed from fund balance.”

To address the 2011-13 budget deficit, the Governor has proposed continued elimination of the following, according to Francois:

  • K-4 enhanced staffing 
  • Highly capable funding
  • Elimination of National Board Certification bonuses
  • Continued suspension of I-732 (cost of living adjustments) and I-728 (class size reduction-a $9 million annual funding loss sustained over the past two years)
  • Freezing movement on the teachers' salary schedule
  • Freezing health benefits
  • Delaying the June apportionment payment to July

“Elminating the K-4 enhanced staffing alone would increase grades K-2 classes by an average of two students and grades 3-4 classes by an average of three students,” Francois stated. “This runs contrary to our school board's priorities to preserve class size, update curriculum and support our most challenged learners.”

Passage of the supplemental levy by Northshore voters last summer has will help the district sustain current staff and programs in the face of further cuts in state funding, according to Francois.

“I believe we are as well positioned as we can be for what looks like two to four more years of significant funding challenges.”


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