Suggested state budget could hurt locally
December 31, 2008
By Laura Geggel
Times are financially tight for the state of Washington, especially for K-12 education and the Department of Early Learning.
With a $5.8 billion deficit, a newly proposed budget by Governor Chris Gregoire has a string of cuts amounting to about $3 billion in the 2009-11 state budget. If passed by the Legislature, these cuts would impact both the Snoqualmie Valley School District and Encompass of North Bend.
School district administrators are still assessing exactly how the proposed budget would affect Snoqualmie Valley, but much of their attention is focused on the fate of two funds — one that reduces class size and one that funds teacher wage increases.
Superintendent Joel Aune said Initiative 728, a fund that reduces class sizes, increases learning opportunities for students and provides professional development for staff, supplies salaries for 30 teachers.
Statewide, the governor has proposed cutting $178 million from Initiative 728, which would translate into about $600,000 less for Snoqualmie Valley.
“We utilize the bulk of those 728 funds to fund teachers, which translates into class size reduction,” Aune said.
The suggested budget also calls for the suspension of Initiative 732, which funds cost of living adjustments for teachers. Statewide, this would save $350 million.
With all of these cuts, Aune said he was still grateful for other areas that retained funding. The two learning improvement days — days in which teachers can focus on school improvement plans — were in danger of losing financial support. But in the end, the governor chose to leave them untouched.
“To leave those two days intact was certainly positive,” Aune said.
The state Legislature will tackle the budget in the upcoming session. The Snoqualmie Valley PTSA plans to visit Olympia in February to call for increased school funding. People can also contact their representatives to comment on the budget.
“We’re responsible and committed to doing the very best that we can to support our students,” Aune said. “My biggest concern is we don’t undo so much of the good work that was done in the last 10 years.”
Encompass is also facing cuts. The governor’s proposed budget would force Encompass to rely more on private fundraising to finance its programs.
“It changes how we have to operate,” said Terry Granillo, Encompass director of finance.
In the proposed budget, Early Childhood Education Assistance Program (ECEAP) funding is flat, which is the same thing as a cut, Granillo said.
ECEAP provides education and assistance to 36 low-income children living with developmental disabilities. The families of these children also receive assistance from Encompass.
“It’s a critical program,” said Paula Nelson, ECEAP family support specialist. “It gives (the children) the head start or boost they need to enter into kindergarten.”
The only other Snoqualmie Valley ECEAP provider, Riverview School District, offers 18 spots in Carnation.
Without additional state funding, Encompass will have to pay for increases in general costs, including supplies, utilities and wage adjustments.
Family Support activities, such as Parent Education, Alcohol & Other Drug programs and Kinship will be flatly funded or suspended.
The Child Care Resource and Referral would be cut entirely from the state budget, but would continue to receive federal funds for the Washington Scholars Program.
Child Care Resource and Referral offers technical assistance to Encompass’ Play and Learn Group and also helps it stay on track for its national accreditation for preschool renewal.
Without Child Care Resource and Referral, Encompass would have to use its own resources to preserve its services and accreditation.
The budget also fails to address Early Intervention programs. King County Developmental Disabilities Division is required to provide services to families with children experiencing developmental disabilities. But the program is under funded — Encompass was not even paid for its services in these areas for the month of November, Granillo said.
“We are the only EI (Early Intervention) provider in the Valley, so by impacting Encompass, these funding shortfalls directly impact children and their families in our community,” Granillo said.
A better way to fund Early Intervention would be to provide money on a per-child basis instead of giving an insufficient flat sum to agencies like Encompass, Granillo said.
Overall, funding for the Department of Early Learning will increase 4 percent. Some of those increases will go toward the homeless care subsidy, which would help Encompass staff refer homeless families to agencies receiving these funds.
Reach reporter Laura Geggel at 392-6434 .221 or lgeggel@snovalleystar.com.
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