Tacoma schools fear state cuts

Members of the Tacoma School Board say they are bracing for bad budget news that’s headed their way.

Last school year, the board reacted to state cuts by closing two elementary schools, leaving some positions vacant and making other spending cuts.

The school district later fought a hard battle with its teachers union that resulted in an eight-day strike in September. One contract issue that went down to the wire revolved around how the district could absorb cuts in state funding for teacher pay.

On Monday, Gov. Chris Gregoire floated proposals that could extract more than $500 million from K-12 and higher education. The proposed cuts include a four-day reduction in the 180-day school year that the state helps fund, along with a reduction in state-funded assistance (known as levy equalization) for relatively property-poor school districts including Tacoma.

Gregoire also proposed a half-cent sales tax increase that could “buy back” some of those cuts – if voters approve.

MILLIONS GONE

A cut of all levy equalization dollars would cost Tacoma more than $6.2 million. Gregoire proposed a cut of 50 percent of levy equalization dollars, which would mean a reduction of more than $3.1 million for Tacoma.

Funding four fewer school days would mean an additional loss of about $3.7 million to Tacoma schools.

“The only way a reduced school year saves money is through cuts to the salaries of our teachers,” said Superintendent Art Jarvis.

He said that is about a 2.2 percent pay cut, on top of what teachers have already lost.

Board members said they want to get out in front of the budget curve this year, and make their positions clear to legislators before the ax falls.

They will likely consider a resolution at their next meeting, scheduled for Dec. 8, outlining those positions.

“I’m in favor of having something go to voters,” said board President Kurt Miller. “I would support a resolution stating that.”

Board member Debbie Winskill said she opposes such a resolution, because she doesn’t think the School Board should make political statements.

But board member Catherine Ushka-Hall said that as one of the three largest school districts in the state, Tacoma should be prepared to take a stand and make board views clear to lawmakers.

“They need to hear from our constituency as well,” she said.

Two new board members will be part of the Dec. 8 discussion. Election results won’t be finalized until Nov. 29, but vote tallies so far show the new members will be former Tacoma Mayor Karen Vialle and small-business owner Scott Heinze.

Jarvis, who in January will become the school district’s lobbyist in Olympia while Deputy Superintendent Carla Santorno steps into district leadership on an interim basis, said he believes it’s important for school districts to “send a message to those who would be making the decisions.”

He said cutting the number of days in the state-funded school year is more equitable than cutting funding to only property-poor districts. But he acknowledged that a shorter school year hits students harder.

POINTS OF AGREEMENT

Board members agreed on several issues. They want the Legislature to avoid making cuts in the middle of the school year – something that happened last year. And they want lawmakers to finish what they start.

Last year, they cut funding for teacher salaries, but left it up to local school districts to negotiate how the cuts would affect their teachers. Some districts chose to make up the difference from budget reserves. Tacoma asked teachers to give up one paid training day per year.

Whatever happens in Olympia, board members want state lawmakers to “tie up the loose ends,” Winskill said.

“Don’t put it on the backs of school districts like they did the last time,” Miller added.

Debbie Cafazzo: 253-597-8635 debbie.cafazzo@thenewstribune.com