Shoreline School District Concerned About Budget Proposal

Shoreline School District officials await answers from the Legislature on how much money they will receive for next fiscal year as the session winds down.

The Senate proposed cutting pay for K-12 teachers and staff members by 3 percent. However, since contracts for next school year are already in place, Gov. Christine Gregoire said districts might have "to eat" those cuts. Both the House and Senate budgets also reduce money aimed at reducing K-4 class sizes. However, a bill co-sponsored by Rep. Cindy Ryu D-Shoreline would restore some funding for K-4 education by taking tax breaks away from big banks and out-of-state shoppers.

Reductions in K-4 funding means the district would have to pay 10 full-time teachers out of its fund balance while balancing other priorities.

 “The reality is that is funding for 10 teachers,” ” Shoreline School District Superintendent Sue Walker said. “We have to figure out if we can cover a portion or a whole."

Both the House and Senate proposed budgets reduce school funding. The Senate budget, released Wednesday, originally included a $95 million cut in K-12 funding related to average daily attendance at schools, but that is now off the table after a negative response from districts.

“We agree with that decision,” Walker said.

Funding inequalities between school districts also exists in part because some districts receive more money to pay teachers as a result of being grandfathered in when to comes to levy lid percentages.

“We're better off than many and not as well off as some,” Walker said.

 The Fircrest educational program that takes care of developmentally disabled students is also on the district’s radar, Walker said, adding that taking care of those students most of whom come from outside the district is the state’s duty.

“It's not appropriate for us or legal for us to spend extra monies in support of that program,” she said.

The House and Senate must now reconcile the two budgets by the end of the legislative session, which closes on April 24.