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POSTED: Monday, Jan. 05, 2009

Whatcom County educators mull ideas to limit school cuts

BELLINGHAM - Local schools are facing tight budgets next academic year, but legislators and education officials are examining ways to decrease the cuts.

Superintendents and school board members from all over Whatcom County joined state legislators Monday, Jan. 5, to discuss what people can expect to happen to school funding when the 2009 Legislature starts next week.

"When you look at next year you're going to have fewer dollars to do what you want to do," said Rep. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale.

School officials know that schools can't be saved from the massive budget cuts facing the state, and they know that all state-funded agencies are being affected. But Blaine Superintendent Ron Spanjer and Lynden acting Superintendent Rick Thompson both said they have already cut into funding for programs outside of the classroom.

"Overall, the funding is not keeping up with the things we are expected to do and I think most of us in this room want to do," Thompson said.

Gov. Chris Gregoire's proposed budget includes a 33 percent reduction in levy equalization funding. That money is given to rural school districts to help offset low property values for tax purposes.

But cutting that funding doesn't affect all school districts. In Whatcom County, it would affect the Lynden, Meridian, Mount Baker and Nooksack Valley school districts, making them reduce their budgets even more than others.

"If you look at the fairness of everyone coming up and pitching in, this is unfair," said Cheryl Thornton, a board member in Nooksack.

Jerry Jenkins, superintendent for the Northwest Educational Service District, said if there was no equalization funding, taxpayers in Nooksack Valley would pay about three times more than those in Blaine to raise the same levy.

"If you take away levy equalization, you're double impacting those kids who happen to live in property-poor districts," Jenkins said.

School districts are hoping to receive some federal stimulus funding for capital projects, but the information about which projects are eligible has been confusing. Ericksen, along with Sen. Dale Brandland, R-Whatcom County, gave the advice to stay flexible.

"Having your list ready is key so that you can start projects you can do now when the money becomes available," Ericksen said.

Some school officials also pointed out changing insurance providers as a potential way to save money. Currently, insurance coverage is part of employee union bargaining, so school districts can all be on different insurance. But if everyone is on the insurance offered by the state, there is a potential savings of about $70 million statewide, according to data from Jenkins.

There were no definite answers to any of the problems brought up Monday night, but all the legislators asked school officials to come up with lists of unfunded mandates or programs that maybe aren't worth the money.

Rep. Kelli Linville, D-Bellingham, is hopeful that the state House of Representatives' new budget process, which includes an entire committee on education, will make it easier for schools to retain some funding as legislators ask themselves, "What can wait?"

"I would think most people would say student education can't wait until the economy gets better," Linville said. "Best thing that could happen for the schools is to get fewer requirements and more per-student funding."