As schools across the state grapple with huge budget issues, administrators in Seattle say they need to cut elementary counselors, programs for struggling students and full-day kindergarten classes. Those are some of their final recommendations after months of pouring over options.
Administrators did manage to shave more than $1.7 million from the budget gap, but they still face a nearly $35 million shortfall.
Schools Will Feel Cuts
Patti Spencer, a spokeswoman for Seattle Public Schools, says administrators have tried to avoid cutting staff who work directly in schools, but will likely need to. The district expects to lose at least $5.4 million in funding the state used to provide to schools. Administrators want to backfill some of the loss with money from a levy voters approved in November. Still, schools will lose at least $2 million in staff salaries next year.
“We do not see how we can balance the budget without doing that,” says Spencer. “There aren’t a whole lot of other options. I mean, you would get into things like eliminating athletics, or eliminating music, or eliminating major program elements.”
'Pay For K' Could Cost More
Administrators also plan to slash funding for a full-day kindergarten class from every school. That doesn’t necessarily mean the classes will go away, but parents will be asked to make up the difference with their checkbooks to keep kids going full-time. Families who can't afford to pay more than the current fee of $207 could have to just settle for half-day classes.
And the List Goes On...
The proposal also includes fewer services for struggling students. Summer school and evening programs are on the line, as well as a second principal sent in to improve Rainier Beach High School this year.
Support services at central office will take the bulk of the cuts. Administrators want to eliminate at least 97 jobs from maintenance to IT to save the district $8.5 million.
Next Steps
The school board is expected to make a decision on the recommendations soon, but won't cast a final vote for several months. Here's what's ahead in the budget process:
- Individual school budget development: Feb 18 - March 14, 2011
- Budget adjustments based on legislative action: April, 2011
- Recommended budgets: introduction to school board: June 15, 2011
- Public hearing on budgets: June 16, 2011
- Recommended budgets action: July 6, 2011
