Growing enrollment, along with a bit more state and local funding, will allow the Puyallup School District to target both gifted and struggling students while beefing up emergency response and parent communication.
The district is preparing a $189 million operating budget for the 2007-08 school year that includes creation of a program for highly capable students, installation of new emergency alert systems and more staffing for students who need help to meet new graduation requirements.
The proposal represents an 8 percent increase over last school year’s $175 million general fund budget.
“Our district’s highest goal is to increase student achievement, and this recommended budget continues the prioritization of resources in support of that goal,” Superintendent Tony Apostle said.
For instance, the AVID program that helps underachieving teens will expand to three junior high schools this fall and to remaining secondary schools in later years, said Jay Reifel, assistant superintendent for student learning and instructional support.
The Advancement Via Individual Determination program, which started at Emerald Ridge High School last year, provides study skills, tutoring and other support to students who are often the first in their family to attend a four-year college.
Meanwhile, Puyallup’s Accelerated Gifted Education program will serve junior high students districtwide who test in the top 1 percent to 2 percent of students and meet other criteria.
Though all six junior high schools will continue to offer “Quest” honors classes in such subjects as math or English, PAGE is intended to offer a more rigorous curriculum, Reifel said. Housed at Kalles Junior High, the program will start with seventh-graders and add older grades in consecutive years.
“There were so many who applied, we added another section,” Reifel said. “There are now 60 students.”
The district’s population boom is contributing to a healthy budget picture while straining its ability to house students.
Powered by new housing developments, the district’s expanded tax base is projected to pump $2.2 million more in local property taxes into next year’s budget.
Officials also expect to add the equivalent of 232 full-time students this fall, boosting districtwide enrollment to 20,975. The added students would bring an additional $1.59 million in state basic education dollars.
Two new elementary schools in the district’s south end, Edgerton and Carson, are expected to open at or close to their 750-student capacities this fall.
Earlier this year, district voters twice rejected a $259.5 million bond measure that would have funded capital improvements, including new school construction, renovation and technology upgrades.
“We do still have facilities issues; there is still overcrowding in South Hill,” said Amy Fleming, director of business services.
The bond measure also would have funded construction and upgrades of junior high science classrooms and labs and replacement of the district’s aging records system for special education students.
District officials decided they couldn’t postpone those expenses. The budget proposal now includes $344,000 to replace the special education records system.
In addition, the School Board recently approved the use of $5.6 million in state matching funds from the district’s 2004 bond measure to fund the lab improvements. The state matching funds hadn’t yet been designated for specific construction projects.
While the budget proposal supports creation or expansion of some programs, it also must cover higher expenses.
State revenues, for instance, will support the state-mandated 3.7 percent cost-of-living raise for school employees hired with state dollars. But Puyallup district taxpayers must pick up the $1.7 million in salary and benefit increases for school employees funded through the district’s local levy.
The budget also earmarks an additional $50,000 for fuel increases for athletic transportation, and reserves another $239,200 just in case fuel and utility costs rise even higher.
WHAT: The Puyallup School Board will hold a public hearing on the budget proposal. The School Board will adopt the budget sometime in August.
WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Aug. 13
Where: Ballou Junior High School, 9916 136th St. E., Puyallup Highlights in Puyallup School District’s 2007-08 budget proposal
Spending
$2 million – Staffing, utilities and other expenses of opening Edgerton Elementary School and Carson Elementary School
$344,000 – Replace aging record system for special education students $194,700 – Increase school supplies
$178,500 – Expand AVID program, which helps underachieving teens prepare for college
$85,000 – Install emergency telephone/e-mail communication system to contact parents at all schools
$76,000 – Install emergency systems at all schools that quickly alert entire campus of incidents
$75,000 – Make community resource officer permanent at Puyallup High School
$69,800 – Start first phase of districtwide program for highly capable junior high students
$50,000 – Reduce some student fees
Saving
$207,800 – End housing of Pope Elementary sixth-graders and one fifth-grade class at Emerald Ridge High School
$120,000 – Administrative position reductions
Debby Abe, The News Tribune
Debby Abe: 253-597-8694
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