The Renton School District is asking for the public’s help in figuring out how to cope with the potential loss of $6 million in state money in the 2009-10 district budget.
The district is planning four meetings, starting this Monday, to take public testimony.
The district has yet to set an overall figure for the 2009-2010 budget, because of uncertainty in the final level of financial support from the state.
The district is using last year’s figure of $130 million as a base, according to Randy Matheson, the district’s spokesman.
The $6 million is the amount the school district could lose if the state Legislature and Gov. Chris Gregoire agree to eliminate most or all of the money available through Initiative 728, designed to reduce class size by hiring teachers.
Voters approved the initiative overwhelmingly in 2000.
The Renton School District, like all levels of education in the state, is facing severe budget cuts because of a $9 billion deficit in the state budget. The state’s education system likely will lose hundreds of millions of dollars.
The district has used the money from I-728 to hire 66 teachers. However, Matheson said the district is not going to eliminate 66 teaching positions to balance its budget.
However, some teaching positions could be lost, by not filling jobs left vacant when a teacher retires or leaves the district for some reason, according to Matheson.
“We want to present some of our options for reducing our budget and maintaining a strong teaching workforce,” said Matheson of the meetings. The four meetings will give the public a chance to comment on those options, which include cutting back on transportation. Those cutbacks could include cuts in bus service to some sporting events.
Another option is to reduce the district’s support for the IKEA Performing Arts Center at Renton High School, he said. Cuts could come in support staff and the central office, he said.
Additional state cuts would come from the elimination of Initiative 732, the voter-approved, cost-of-living increases for teachers and district support staff.
The state Legislature can repeal initiatives after two years.
Both the House and Senate must reach final budget decisions prior to the scheduled adjournment on April 26.
Here is the Renton School District’s analysis of the impact on the district from the House and Senate budgets.
House budget
The House budget would cut public school funding by $625 million statewide; Renton’s reduction will be $6.7 million.
The House budget would reduce per pupil funding of I-728 by 60 perent. That would reduce the district’s current I-728 allocation of about $460 per student to $184 per pupil, a reduction of more than $3.6 million.
The House budget would reduce the number of funded teaching staff by approximately 40 full-time teachers.
Additionally, the House budget takes away the two learning improvement days for staff development of teachers, and staff development dollars designated to improving instruction in math and science. The total cost to the district for the loss of the improvement days is about $477,000. The lost revenues for math and science staff development will be more than $240,000.
Further, the House budget reduces allocations to:
• transportation,$49,000
• special education, $186,000
• Learning Assistance Program, $120,000
• transitional bilingual, $52,000)
• Highly Capable program, ($8,000)
Senate budget
The Senate budget would cut public school funding by $877 million statewide; Renton’s reduction will be $10.8 million.
The Senate budget would reduce per pupil funding of I-728 by 93 percent. That would reduce the district’s current I-728 allocation of about $460 per student to $31.20 per pupil: a reduction of more than $5.6 million.
The Senate budget would reduce the number of funded certificated teaching staff by approximately 61 full-time teachers.
The Senate budget significantly reduces the allocation of certificated staff in kindergarten through fourth-grade: a reduction in Renton of more than 24 full-time teaching positions.
Additionally, the Senate budget reduces the amount of support staff (custodians, secretaries, instructional assistants, etc.) by about 5 full-time positions.
Further, the Senate budget takes away one of the learning improvement days for staff development of teachers, and staff development dollars focused on improving instruction in math and science. The loss of the one improvement day is about $237,000. Lost revenues for math and science staff development is more than $240,000.
BUDGET MEETINGS
The Renton School District will hold four public meetings during the next two weeks where residents can comment on the potential for millions of dollars in cuts to the school district budget. Officials will present options for possible cuts, then the public can offer testimony. Or residents can offer written comments.
All meetings are 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The meetings are:
• Monday, April 13, Lindbergh High School Little Theater, 16426 128th Ave. S.E.
• Monday, April 20, Kohlwes Education Center Board Room, 300 S.W. Seventh St.
• Tuesday, April 21, Renton High School Library, 400 S. Second St.
• Wednesday, April 22, Hazen High School Library, 1101 Hoquiam Ave. N.E.
HOW TO COMMENT ONLINE
The Renton School District has added an online survey for those interested in giving input on the 2009-2010 budget proposal and cannot make it to the staff and community presentations.
