Back to school in the South Sound

School districts throughout the state are tightening their belts this year, thanks to the continuing economic downturn and its effect on tax collections.

In school districts across the South Sound, there will be fewer bus stops, slimmer payrolls, reduced maintenance and custodial hours, fewer librarians, teachers, para-educators and administrators.

But there also are some new schools, more online connections between schools and their communities, new teaching and grading methods, fresh paint and – as always – fresh faces.

Here’s a summary of what’s happening in 16 local school districts with estimated populations of students and teachers (comparison to number of teachers last year in parentheses), start and end dates, what’s new in the district, budget numbers in millions of dollars (comparison to last year in parentheses) and contact information:

BETHEL

Students: 17,000
Teachers: 864 (down 25 from last year)
Start/end dates: Sept. 7-June 14
What’s new: A new Spanaway Elementary School; Construction at Clover Creek and Shining Mountain elementary schools, Bethel Learning Center, Phase 2 at the Pierce County Skills Center; New high school science curriculum.
Budget watch: $166 million (down $7.1 million due to state and federal cuts). Technology purchase suspended, K-8 science curriculum adoption delayed, reductions of teachers and other staff members – including custodians and para-educators – and reduction of administrative positions and budgets.
Contact information: 253-683-6000; bethelsd.org.

CARBONADO

Students: 184
Teachers: 12 (same)
Start/end dates: Aug. 31- June 12
What’s new: “Go Math” program for kindergarten through fifth grade; Grades 1 through 8 will be dismissed at 2:55 p.m.; Kindergarten through fifth grade teachers developed a report card that aligns with standards.
Budget watch: $1.975 million (close to last year’s budget). Cut costly workshops for staff members, looking closely at district purchases.
Contact information: 360-829-0121; carbonado.k12.wa.us.

CLOVER PARK

Students: 11,134
Teachers: 827 including counselors and other certificated staff members (Down 20 approx. Number might be adjusted based on actual enrollment).
Start/end dates: Sept. 7- June 20
What’s new: Final phase of new Lakes High School complete; Construction of Hudtloff Middle School; New elementary reading program; Online payments for student meals and secondary school fees.
Budget watch: $144 million (down $5.6 million). Reduction of classroom coaches to 15 from 24; $2 million reduction in central administration budget; fewer custodians; reduced hours for para-educators.
Contact information: 253-583-5000; cloverpark.k12.wa.us.

DIERINGER

Students: 1,500 (up about 4 percent)
Teachers: 77 (up 3)
Start/end dates: Sept. 6- June 19
What’s new: Dieringer Education Foundation (parents and alums) working to enrich student programs and provide college scholarships; Target has awarded staff grants.
Budget watch: $14.5 million. All staff received salary reductions. Employee groups have agreed to continue under their current contracts and not seek additional compensation. Contact information: 253-862-2537; dieringer.wednet.edu.

EATONVILLE

Students: 1,847
Teachers: 116 (down less than 1 full-time equivalent)
Start/end dates: Sept. 7- June 21
What’s new: Roni Rumsay, new director of teaching/learning/assessment; Amy Sturdivant, new principal at Weyerhaeuser Elementary School.
Budget watch: $22.6 million.
Contact information: 360-879-1000; eatonville.wednet.edu.

FEDERAL WAY

Students: 21,907
Teachers: 1,376 including counselors and other certificated staff (down 56.5 full-time equivalents)
Start/end dates: Sept. 1- June 15
What’s new: AsPire Academy at Decatur High School for beginning advanced placement students; Teacher Academy at Federal Way High School; Math and Science Academy at Saghalie Middle School; Dual language program at Sunnycrest. Lakeland and Sunnycrest have new buildings. Standards-based education system (see district website for information).
Budget watch: $209.1 million which reflects about $10 million in reduced funding. Reductions in administrative staff, support staff, increased class size, all-day kindergarten.
Contact information: 253-945-2000; fwps.org.

FIFE

Students: 3,377
Teachers: 195 (down 9)
Start/end dates: Aug. 31- June 14
What’s new: New math curriculum for all grades.
Budget watch: $33 million (down $500,000 from last year).
Contact information: 253-517-1000; fifeschools.com.

FRANKLIN PIERCE

Students: 7,400
Teachers: 484 teachers and other certificated staff members (down 19)
Start/end dates: Aug. 30- June 14
What’s new: Early release Wednesdays on selected dates to allow teacher collaboration.
Budget watch: $74.1 million (down about $2 million). Deferred maintenance; reduced staffing in support services; eliminated dean positions and other administrative posts; cut “C” teams in athletics and reduced transportation; eliminated physical education and information technology positions; reduced curriculum adoptions.
Contact information: 253-298-3000; fpschools.org.

ORTING

Students: 2,176
Teachers: 121 (down 4)
Start/end dates: Sept. 1- June 15
What’s new: Coming soon: Parents will be able to buy student supplies, lunches and pay fees online; New bus route system; District will pay for every high school junior to take the PSAT test; Early release Fridays expanded to include grades six through 12 to allow teachers time for professional development and to review student data.
Budget watch: $19.7 million (down $400,000). Class size increases; staff supplemental contracts for added duties reduced or eliminated; changes in kindergarten schedule to eliminate a mid-day bus run.
Contact information: 360-893-6500; orting.wednet.edu.

PENINSULA

Students: 8,775
Teachers: 560 certificated staff (down 12 approx.)
Start/end dates: Sept. 1- June 19 (Kindergarten will start Sept. 6)
What’s new: New paint, carpeting, grounds cleanup in some schools; Resurfaced tennis courts at Gig Harbor High School and resurfaced track at Peninsula High School; Middle schools will shift from a four-period alternating day schedule to a six-period day; A focus on writing in professional development.
Budget watch: $83 million (down $2.5 million). Fewer teachers, a half-time loss of an assistant principal; salary reductions districtwide total about $700,000. Deferred curriculum purchases.
Contact information: 253-530-1000; psd401.net.

PUYALLUP

Students: 21,500
Teachers: 1,230 (roughly the same)
Start/end dates: Sept. 1- June 18
What’s new: Track and field improvements at Emerald Ridge High School; Facility improvements at Rogers High School; New math program; Citizens committee to study whether to build a fourth comprehensive high school or make additions at existing schools; Parent meetings to review secondary grading changes.
Budget watch: $198 million (down $8.1 million). Cuts to special education, technology training, fewer support staff members.
Contact information: 253-841-1301; puyallup.k12.wa.us.

STEILACOOM

Students: 4,619 (including online students enrolled in Washington Virtual Academy/WAVA)
Teachers: 200 (down 38 approx., mostly in WAVA)
Start/end dates: Sept. 1- June 14 (Sept. 6 start for WAVA)
What’s new: Renovation at Anderson Island Elementary School; New writing curriculum; Changes in transportation system.
Budget watch: $36.5 million (down $2 million). One central office administrator and one principal position eliminated.
Contact information: 253-983-2200; steilacoom.k12.wa.us.

SUMNER

Students: 7,969
Teachers: 454 (down 9)
Start/end dates: Sept. 7- June 19
What’s new: New interim superintendent Craig Spencer; Bonney Lake Elementary School modernization project complete; Updating at Maple Lawn Elementary School; Last phase of construction at Sumner Middle School scheduled for completion in December; Standards-based grading pilot in middle schools; New technology to support online state testing.
Budget watch: $78.5 million (down $3.4 million). The district has reduced the general fund budget $10 million over three years. Custodial hours have been reduced.
Contact information: 253-891-6000; sumnersd.org.

TACOMA

Students: 28,483
Teachers: 1,975 full-time equivalents (down 47)
Start/end dates: Sept. 1- June 12 (Sept. 6 for SAMI, SOTA, Stewart M.S. & online classes)
What’s new: Night classes for high school students scheduled to begin second semester at Foss High School; Geiger Elementary School students will attend school at the old Hunt Middle School during construction of a new Geiger; A new Baker Middle School is to open in January; Manitou Park Elementary School will celebrate its 100th anniversary Oct. 26.
Budget watch: $337.4 million (total shortfall was $26.6 million). Two elementary schools closed. Reduced teaching support. Total staffing reductions of 69 full-time equivalents.
Contact information: 253-571-1000; tacomaschools.org.

UNIVERSITY PLACE

Students: 5,152
Teachers: 348 (down 2.5 full-time equivalents)
Start/end dates: Sept. 6- June 21
What’s new: Continuing emphasis on the teaching of math.
Budget watch: $51.4 million. Reflects ongoing cuts from federal and state sources over several years. Combined two administrative positions (director of human resources and special services); reduced para-educators in special education programs; reduced hours in custodial and maintenance hours.
Contact information: 253-566-5600; upsd.wednet.edu.

WHITE RIVER

Students: 3,950
Teachers: 206 (down 12)
Start/end dates: Sept. 1- June 13
What’s new: New principals Nick Hedman at Wilkeson Elementary School, Greg Borgerding at Glacier Middle School; Glacier launches a new career and technical education program.
Budget watch: $37 million (lost $1.8 million in funding). Offset funding reductions by spending about $1.2 million from district fund balance.
Contact information: 360-829-0600; whiteriver.wednet.edu.