State budget: $90 Million Loss in Education Funding

Thursday, March 14, 2002—The Legislature this afternoon sent Gov. Gary Locke a budget plan that decreases state spending by $1.6 billion. The governor is expected to sign the budget.

Cuts in K-12 education amount to about $90 million, including losses in class-size reduction funds, elimination of one paid planning (LID) day for teachers, and cuts in various state-funded elementary and secondary programs.

One of the major programs cut by the Legislature is the Better Schools program. That program is a state-funded program designed to reduce class size in K-4 classrooms. The loss of funding for the Better Schools program could mean a loss in the Renton School District of as many as 10 teaching or teaching assistance positions in K-4 classrooms. Employees in those positions were hired with money from Better Schools funding. The loss of that program would also mean an increase in class size at that level. Teachers currently teaching in those positions would not necessarily be RIF’ed. They could be moved into positions left vacant by retirements or other attrition.

Other cuts made in the Legislative budget are the loss of Math Helping Corps., paraprofessional training, principal support program, some Becca funding, leadership intern, and traffic safety programs.

District work has already begun to address next year’s budget deficit brought on by the cuts in the state budget. The district’s Budget Advisory Committee, made up of staff, parents and community members, will soon begin looking at budget proposals. The school Board of Directors has the final say on the district budget.