School Districts Brace For Olympia News Legislation Would Take Big Bite Out Of Funding For Schools, With House Proposal Most Severe

Spokane Valley school districts are scrambling to plan tighter budgets in anticipation of a funding cut by the state Legislature.

All of the districts estimate their budgets will be cut by several hundred thousand dollars, regardless of whether the Legislature finally passes the House version of the state budget, the Senate version, or a compromise budget.

East Valley School District Superintendent Chuck Stocker estimates his budget will be cut by about $100,000 if the the Senate’s version of the budget is adopted. Under the House version, EV could lose up to $1 million, Stocker said.

Central Valley School District officials, who manage the biggest school budget in the Valley, are dealing with possible losses of up to $2 million under the House version and about $700,000 if the Senate version goes through, said Assistant Superintendent Wally Stanley.

West Valley School District faces losses of up to $1 million under the House budget and up to $200,000 with the Senate version, said Superintendent Dave Smith.

With negotiations in the third week, and neither side backing down, there’s no telling when the Legislature will agree on its budget cut package. The House proposes to cut $738 million, while the Senate’s package would cut $264 million.

At an East Valley School Board meeting Tuesday night, members threw around ideas aimed at balancing some of the anticipated losses.

Board member Karl Wilkinson suggested setting up programs aimed at winning back Valley students who have dropped out of school. He also proposed developing programs similar to home-schooling to attract students who are taught by their parents at home.

Each enrolled student is worth an average of $3,500 to a school district’s budget.

At Central Valley, a hiring freeze was announced Monday and will remain in place until the district learns what it’s facing in terms of budget cuts.

“Until we know what they’re going to do, our hands are tied,” said Superintendent Dick Sovde.

A quickly growing district, West Valley will have at least 50 more students enrolled in the fall and is planning for an additional first-grade section.

But aside from saying that there would be a teacher for that firstgrade section, Superintendent Smith declined to project how increased enrollment would be accounted for with less money.

West Valley board members decided at Wednesday night’s meeting to write a letter to their state representatives to express anger over the proposed budget cuts.

“I’m really disgusted with the way the House is proceeding,” said board member Pete Schweda. “They seem to have no feelings or compassion or brains to see what (their budget) is doing to school children.”