Measure To Study School Costs

Some lawmakers say school districts in Washington spend too much money on administrators at the expense of text books, supplies and technology.

So Rep. Bill Brumsickle, R-Centralia, and 41 other lawmakers are sponsoring HB1027, which would form a committee to look at the state agencies responsible for public school fiscal policy.

In addition, the committee would scrutinize the Commission on Student Learning and Educational Service Districts, which provide services to school districts.

The Joint Select Committee on Education Restructuring would look at the roles and responsibilities of those agencies. At the end of the year, it would recommend ways for the Legislature to improve the system.

The bill calls for the state’s educational system to:

Focus on improving student learning.

Reduce administrative costs.

Provide technical assistance and leadership to school districts.

Provide clear lines of authority and accountability.

The second part of the bill would create a school district financial review program. Under this program, the superintendent of public instruction would provide money so school districts could conduct financial reviews to find ways of making more money available to help teachers and students.