Arguably Deserving Award-Winning Mead High Debate Team Scrambling For Money After Budget Cuts

The Mead High debate room is wallpapered with awards and packed with trophies.

The school’s debate team, state champions two of the last three years, so dominated a prestigious tournament earlier this year that judges called the event before the final round - sort of like ending the football championship at halftime, before it became an embarrassing rout.

“In the last two years, they are arguably the best program in the state, and maybe the tri-state area (of Washington, Oregon and Idaho),” said Gonzaga University debate coach Jamey Dumas. “I don’t think there’s anything in the drinking water up there, I think the kids are just amazingly well prepared.”

But the 50 students in the program are having their logic skills tested. As the school district slashes expenses, the team has lost much of its budget, its assistant coach and its ability to travel to tournaments.

The cuts, which will take effect in September, would “eviscerate” the program, coach Penny Johnston wrote in a fund-raising plea to parents and supporters. The cuts would dull the razor-edge competitiveness of the students by cutting back on their travel, thus limiting their exposure to top student debaters in Western Washington.

The students are now trying to replace some $14,000 with private money through aggressive fund-raising. Instead of practicing, students are selling candy bars and holding car washes, garage sales and even a bingo night.

That worries parents, who say they moved to the district because of quality academic programs like debate. Some ask if the district’s sterling reputation is being tarnished by budget cuts and the chaos of opening a second high school, Mount Spokane, in the fall.

“We moved from New Jersey for the Mead debate program,” said parent Diane Moshin, half joking.

She points to her husband, Mark, sitting next to her at a recent bingo fund-raiser for the debate team. Their son, Jamie, is a team star.

“We’re both ex-New York teachers, and when you start cutting money for academics, it sends a terrible message…. You cut the quality programs that put a school on top, and, well, it’s going to suffer.”

Other parents, even those who actively support and raise money for the district, admit concern.

“That has crossed all of our minds,” said Linda Griego, president of the Mead High Parent-Teacher Organization. “We care very much about the community, but if we are really honest, it comes down to my kid…. What are they getting from the school?”

Administrators point out that cuts were spread across the district to soften the impact. Custodial and administrator positions, teacher preparation time, gifted programs, even gym-towel laundry services, are being cut.

“I don’t think we have sacrificed the quality of education for the budget,” said Superintendent Bill Mester.

The district is in the process of cutting and transferring about $2 million of its $43 million budget. The cuts, in part, are the result of legislative policies. Expenses for opening Mount Spokane High are also squeezing district resources.

The good news, said Mester, is that the Legislature approved a measure that raises a lid on property tax levies. Districts can ask voters to approve larger levies, which Mead voters have traditionally supported.

Gov. Gary Locke is considering the measure, HB 2069, and is expected to sign it.

Locke’s approval could bring the school an unexpected $1 million or more, if voters approve. If so, some of the money cut would be restored.

“As soon as we get a good handle on where it is, we’ll talk about what we can restore,” said Mester. “We are extremely happy and relieved with the Legislature’s decision.”

Mead High Principal Mick Miller praises Johnston’s debate team but says the decision to cut debate funding was based on priorities and the size of budgets.

“They are wonderful kids and we want to support them, but look at what they have and what others have, and you have to make a cut,” said Miller.

But the cuts have been informative to Johnston and her students: If the cuts were made based on priorities, they know where they rank.

Debate students already shell out hundreds of dollars for the constant travel to Western Washington tournaments. The district in the past has paid for a bus and some expenses for the tournaments, calling them academic equivalents of sports events.

But the program was the hardest hit by a decision to cut the $14,000 that went for travel outside the Spokane area, except by special permission. Combined with the loss of an assistant coach and decision not to pay for Johnston’s travel expenses, debate arguably took the biggest hit of any academic program.

“I’ve never seen a football player carry around a box of chocolate” to sell, said Susan Martin, a senior who qualified for the state finals in the humorous interpretation category. “We can’t get a bus to go to a tournament, and they get a new field.”

The school district recently approved about $600,000 to develop 14 acres of sports fields and spent $50,000 last year for new ninth-grade football uniforms.

Just one assistant football coach was cut, leaving the district with 16 football coaches next year. An assistant cheerleading coach was also cut.

“It doesn’t matter if kids sing in choir, play catcher or are on the debate team they need an activity,” said Johnston. “I wouldn’t want a basketball player to not play because they couldn’t come up with $100.”

The team has almost raised enough for its first tournament, a September event in Puyallup, through corporate donations.

Last Friday’s bingo event garnered $800. Huddled over bingo boards in the Mead High cafeteria, parents grumbled about the cuts.

“If they are talking about academics, they should support academics,” said Gene Rutledge, parent of sophomore debater Gracie. “If they have to cut back, they should cut back on things like basketball.”

A few tables over, 5-year-old Lindsey Beresford squeals “Bingo!”

Welcome to modern public school funding: “N-46? We’ve got a winner!”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Photos (1 Color)