SPOKANE, Wash. — School districts in Eastern Washington are preparing for potential cuts to staff and programs after a change in how schools are funded.
Wednesday night, both the Spokane Public Schools and West Valley School boards were expected to approve resolutions to implement budget cuts if they are needed.
The West Valley School Board discussed a Financial Emergency resolution that would facilitate any cuts.
The Mead School District’s board approved a similar resolution Monday evening.
In 2012, the McCleary decision was handed down in Washington State to demand adequate state funding for education. The legislature set aside an extra $2 billion to pay for salary increases in 2018.
Salary negotiations centered on how that money should be distributed. The funding for each school district was being negotiated on a local level.
By the late summer of 2018, some Eastern Washington educators and their unions were still negotiating contracts with their districts. The negotiations ended with a contract that included raises for staff members in a number of local districts. School districts doled out pay raises to attract and retain qualified educators.
With more state funding came a cap on the revenue districts can generate through local levees. Many districts, including Spokane, West Valley, and Mead depend on local levees to help fund education.
The limit on local levees affects each school district differently. For example, Seattle generates more than three times the funding from levees than Spokane at the same rate. This is because of the vast difference in property values.
According to Zillow's most recent Home Value Index, the average home value in Spokane is $208,400. The average home value in Seattle is $729,400.
According to a school spokesperson, Spokane Public Schools is projected to lose $43 million in levy revenue through this school year and the next.
Mead Assistant Superintendent Wayne Leonard said the district’s local levy revenue was reduced by $12 million.
Administrators with the West Valley School district have started meeting with employees. Superintendent Gene Sementi said they may cut about 40 positions, including ten teaching positions, as early as this spring or next fall. Sementi said for now they will be able to maintain their class sizes and they are trying to limit how these potential cuts will affect students.
Spokane, Mead, and West Valley school districts are waiting to see if the state legislature will approve additional funding.
“There’s a fundamental disconnect with what we thought McCleary was and what the legislators thought. We’re hopeful they’ll do something,” Leonard said.
Districts are looking to lawmakers to provide more funding for special education and new employee benefits.
Leonard said statewide special education is underfunded by $400 million.
Katy Henry, president of the Spokane Education Association, said the teachers union is also waiting to see what the legislature decides. She said there is a clause in the bargaining contract that allows the district to reduce educational services and programs in a fiscal emergency.
“Nobody takes these decisions lightly. It’s a significant decision,” Henry said.