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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Board Votes For Greater Choice In Education Full-Time Magnet School, Increased Bus Routes Mark $203 Million Budget

More money for gifted education. Additional bus routes. A higher bill for driver’s ed students.

Those are among the many changes reflected in a $203 million spending plan the Spokane School Board unanimously approved Wednesday.

A full-time magnet school for gifted fifth- and sixth-graders will cost District 81 $62,000 more than the existing one-day-a-week program.

Now students and parents can choose between the programs. About 60 students are expected to enroll in the district’s first full-time gifted program at Libby Center, 2900 E. First.

More money also was budgeted for getting kids to and from school. Six new bus routes - four of them for special education students - are expected to cost an extra $297,173.

“The public, even though you might have less students, is expecting more and more services,” said Joe Madsen, the district’s security director.

“Parents are less and less willing - and students feel less and less comfortable - in wanting to walk. It’s just a sign of the times.”

Madsen said the exact locations of the routes won’t be determined until after school starts.

Elementary schoolchildren having trouble learning to read will also get more help under next year’s spending plan. About $100,000 will be spent on “reading enhancement programs,” said Associate Superintendent Walt Rulffes.

Earning a driver’s license through Spokane schools will also cost more. Students taking driver’s education classes will pay $125 for their training instead of $100.

“It has not been paying for itself,” Livingston said, referring to the classes.

The price hike is expected to generate an additional $43,000. The cost will likely rise again in a year to $140 per class, administrators said.

“It’s still a bargain,” Rulffes said, noting private companies charge more to teach people to drive.

The budget also reflects an increase in school lunch prices. Lunch will increase 10 cents, to $1.25 in elementary schools, $1.60 in middle schools and $1.85 in high schools.

Breakfast prices will rise by a nickel, to 65 cents at elementary schools and 85 cents at middle and high schools.

That’ll generate an additional $280,000 in revenue, said Rulffes.

While administrators expect slightly fewer students next year, they plan to hire 17 more teachers.

The district’s financial planners predict about 187 fewer students will enroll, leaving the student population at about 29,950.

“Every county school is projecting some decrease,” Livingston said. “We’re just kind of stagnant.”

The new teachers are needed mostly for special programs that are growing rapidly, such as vocational training, programs for high-poverty schools and special education classes, he said.

Administrators are hoping more students than expected enroll. The district gets about $3,800 from the state for each student.

“Enrollment is our lifeblood, in terms of finances,” Rulffes said.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: TOUGHER ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY OK’d District 81 school board members unanimously approved a new, tougher harassment policy Wednesday. Types of harassment - including derogatory comments are outlined in an easy-to-understand format. The new policy also lists possible discipline measures for offenders. Retaliation against anyone who reports harassment is forbidden. “This is definitely one of the best, most comprehensive policies in the state of Washington,” said board member Rob Fukai. “We should be very proud.” Training for administrators is set to begin in August. New teachers will learn about the policy as they’re hired, and training is being scheduled for the rest of the faculty. In the last six months, students in Spokane public schools reported 188 instances of harassment or discrimination.

This sidebar appeared with the story: TOUGHER ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY OK’d District 81 school board members unanimously approved a new, tougher harassment policy Wednesday. Types of harassment - including derogatory comments are outlined in an easy-to-understand format. The new policy also lists possible discipline measures for offenders. Retaliation against anyone who reports harassment is forbidden. “This is definitely one of the best, most comprehensive policies in the state of Washington,” said board member Rob Fukai. “We should be very proud.” Training for administrators is set to begin in August. New teachers will learn about the policy as they’re hired, and training is being scheduled for the rest of the faculty. In the last six months, students in Spokane public schools reported 188 instances of harassment or discrimination.