SPOKANE, Wash. — The Spokane Public Schools board is considering pulling $9 million from its reserve funding account.
The additional funds would lessen a budget deficit for the 2020-2021 school year, according to the SPS School Board President Jerall Haynes.
In the summer before the 2020-2021 school year, the district faced a $31 million budget deficit.
To compensate for a funding shortfall for the next school year, district leaders considered proposing a $21 million supplemental levy.
The board declined the levy in a 3-2 vote Wednesday. A district spokesperson said it would have cost about $200,000 to hold a special election in April for voters to approve or deny the levy.
If approved, the $9 million would help restore several positions the district had to cut, including 67 staff members and nine teachers.
The funding would also increase the number of mental health professionals, librarians and fitness teachers in schools and lengthen elementary school days on Friday’s.
Haynes said the $9 million amount isn’t concrete; the board will continue to discuss its budget plan throughout the remainder of the school year.
Haynes said the board must approve a final budget in August 2020, before the start of the next school year.
The following video is a report on the Genesee and Troy school districts in Idaho canceling class due to coronavirus concerns.