Budget Information

Federal Way Public Schools Face Deep Budget Cuts for Next Year

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Based on Governor Gregoire's proposed state budget, the state funding to Federal Way Public Schools in the coming school year will be a minimum of $5 million less than what is needed to maintain current levels of service. This will require difficult reductions in the district’s operating budget for the coming school year, which begins Sept. 1, 2009.

Already stripped by $14 million in cuts over the past eight years, the district's budget has little capacity for cuts of this size. There are difficult decisions ahead, and virtually no avenue for avoiding cuts to student programs. "Facing budget cuts of this magnitude means that, for the first time, our vision of "All Means All" is in serious jeopardy of being stalled through personnel and program reductions," Superintendent Tom Murphy noted.

We know that families, FWPS staff and the entire community are very concerned. There are many questions — some of which can't be answered yet. Until the legislature and the governor finalize the state’s two-year budget in late April, 2009, we are using what we Do know to prepare. Specifics may change, but no one expects that budget cuts are unavoidable. The national and state budget crises are too deep to escape cuts.

We have prepared some information that may help you understand the situation and the issues we face in the next few months. As more is known, we will update the budget information on the FWPS website.

Budget Timeline 

Superintendent Murphy and his staff will spend the next three to five months providing information to staff and community groups about the extent of the funding reductions, and what impact we expect to programs and staffing.

We will also be collecting thoughts, comments, and suggestions related to strategies we might employ to address these losses.

The information generated through these conversations will help FWPS administration formulate their budget recommendation for the board of directors. The Superintendent's recommendation will be presented to the Board on April 28.  The community will have opportunity to comment on the recommendations from then to the end of June, when the board will adopt a budget.

The timeline at the state and local level should look something like this:

• December 19: Gov. Gregoire releases her 2009-11 budget proposal.
• January 12: Washington State Legislature convenes. The Legislature will review the Governor’s budget proposal and members will provide their own proposals during the legislative session.
• January, February and March: Staff and Community Presentations and Input
• February, March and April: Discussions and negotiations are held during the legislative session to come to agreement on how to combine the three budget proposals (the governor’s, house’s and senate’s) into one budget for the State of Washington.
• February: Superintendent Murphy announces a preliminary district budget based on our best estimate on how much money the State budget will provide for K-12 education.
• May 15, 2009: Legal deadline for Federal Way School District to notify teachers that their jobs may be eliminated through a Reduction in Force (RIF).
  Note that in May, FWPS may still be working with estimated impacts of state and federal funding losses. Employment agreements require that we tell people they might lose their jobs -- typically before the budget is actually adopted. Often times staff notified of a lay-off will actually be returned to vacant positions in the following school year.
• April 2009: Legislature sends final budget proposal to the Governor. However, the governor has line item veto power anytime during the process, even after the house and senate adjourn.
• April 26, 2009: Legislature adjourns.
• April 28, 2009: Superintendent's recommended budget for 2009-2010 school year presented
• June 23, 2009: FWPS Board adopts budget