Budget 09/10 Discussion - January 15, 2009
4:18 | Sally McLean: Good Afternoon and welcome our first budget blog. |
4:19 | Sally McLean: Questions and Answers will begin at 4:30. |
4:26 | Sally McLean: With Washington State facing the largest shortfall in state history ($6 Billion and rising), the Governor's 2009-11 budget recommendation contains a number reductions that create a minimum $5 Million shortfall for Federal Way next year. |
4:31 | [Comment From justme] I am hearing about a lot of differing comments about where reductions will be made. How and when will the decisions be made? |
4:32 | Sally McLean: Superintendent Murphy is scheduled to release his recommendation to the Board on April 28th. The Board is scheduled to adopt the budget on June 23rd. |
4:33 | Sally McLean: Between now and April 28th, several more pieces of factual information will be available including the State's final adopted budget, assuming the legislature adjourns on time. |
4:34 | Sally McLean: We are now actively providing information to community and gathering questions and comments from our community, parents, staff and students. |
4:36 | [Comment From Kyra] Are teaching jobs considered to be in danger of being cut? |
4:37 | Sally McLean: With more than 85% of the district budget allocated to staff, it is not possible to make a $5M reduction without staffing reductions. |
4:39 | Sally McLean: In 2003-04, the last year we were faced with a similar budget challenge, more than 100 positions were eliminated from the budget. Some of those losses were absorbed through attrition and some were actual lay-offs. |
4:41 | [Comment From Charles Hoff] What changes are beign considered to change tthe way we do instruction to make it more effective? |
4:44 | Sally McLean: A major shift in instructional improvement was implemented this year with the expansion of instructional coaches through all grade levels. This movement was based on research results from a review of the 10 highest performing school districts in the world by the McKinsey. We hope to be able to continue and enhance this strategy as we move forward. |
4:47 | [Comment From Charles Hoff] Do we have any evidence that this change in staffing is reaching the kids that are not having success in achievement? |
4:51 | Sally McLean: As with any new program, some time needs to be provided for evidence to be accumulated. |
4:55 | [Comment From Debra] Sally, can you explain how the state's mandated increases in COLAs costs the district more money? |
4:57 | Sally McLean: When Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) are provided by the State, the State is only legally required to provide funding for a portion of the school district's staff. Specifically the state funds COLA for the funding formulas protected by the 1977 Basic Education Act and the three Doran Decisions. |
4:58 | Sally McLean: This leaves about half of the COLA for staff and salaries "unfunded" by the State. In Federal Way each 1% of COLA costs about $750,000 beyond the state funding. |
5:02 | [Comment From Debra] Also - the governor's budget cuts local effort assistance . Supt. Murphy recently said this is unfair to poor districts. Why? Are we really a 'poor' district? |
5:02 | Sally McLean: Local effort assistance is provided to school districts across the state who have lower assessed valuations in an attempt to partially equalize the tax rates for property owners. |
5:07 | Sally McLean: With a smaller than average assessed valuation based in Federal Way we currently receive about $5.1 M in local effort assistance. A state reduction in this area creates disproportionate reductions for districts. |
5:07 | [Comment From justme] I keep hearing about lawsuits regarding education funding. Won't these help? |
5:08 | Sally McLean: There are three active lawsuits related to education funding in the State of Washington. Federal Way's lawsuit, commonly referred to as the Fair School Funding lawsuit, was heard in King County Superior Court in November, 2007. |
5:10 | Sally McLean: Judge Heavey did declare portions of the state funding system to be unconstitutional. Currently we are waiting for a Supreme Court hearing date. Even with a successful decision at the Supreme Court, we will still need legislative action for resolution. |
5:11 | Sally McLean: Click here if you wish to read additional information about this legal action. |
5:11 | [Comment From silverfox] What are the priorities that will be used to make budget decisions? |
5:13 | Sally McLean: The District's Strategic Plan, and the specific measurable goals encompassed in the plan and it's supporting documents, will be used as the filter for making budget decisions. |
5:17 | [Comment From silverfox] I have heard there is a possibility of schools being closed. Is that true? |
5:19 | Sally McLean: When a district is faced shortfalls of this magnitude, everything must be considered. |
5:20 | Sally McLean: In 2003-04 in fact, the Superintendent did make a recommendation to consider closing schools for 2004-05. |
5:21 | Sally McLean: If it is determined that schools closures will be required, a separate process and timeline will be utilized (beyond the budget process). Normally it would take at least a year to plan and implement a school closure. |
5:21 | [Comment From Lorri] With the reduction in force, do you anticipate having to increase class size? If so, how many students would be in an elementary school class? If the class size increases, would that require additional Para Educators to support the teachers? |
5:23 | Sally McLean: In Federal Way we have typically looked at targeted reductions (program and support eliminations) rather than across-the-board reductions. A class size increase is considered an across-the-board reduction. |
5:25 | Sally McLean: At this point, no decisions have been made -- including whether or not a reduction in force will be necessary (the final legislative budget may look different than the current Governor's recommendation). A variety of factors need to be evaluated when class size increases are considered -- including parameters set in state and federal funding formulas. |
5:32 | Sally McLean: While it is likely that staffing reductions will be required, no specific decisions have been made, and changes in staffing levels recommended by the Superintendent may or may not impact class size. |
5:36 | [Comment From justme] How can I stay informed about state and local budget information? |
5:38 | Sally McLean: The District's web-site contains a range of budget information. This information will be updated regularly and will contain specifc budget information presented to the Board during the regularly scheduled board meetings. |
5:38 | [Comment From silverfox] Do you have to bus kids to school? Why not eliminate that? |
5:39 | Sally McLean: There are several components to transportation: Big bus, special routes and extracurricular trips. |
5:41 | Sally McLean: School districts are not required to provided regular transportation to and from school for most students. However, when a student requires transportation as a related service for the Individual Education Plan, or when a student is considered homeless under the Federal McKinney Vento Act, then we are required to provide transportation. |
5:41 | Sally McLean: The costs of providing field trips and sport trips are typically paid for by parents, PTSA organizations or through ASB fundraising. |
5:42 | [Comment From =]] I ride the bus not all people can get rides you know. |
5:45 | Sally McLean: We appreciate that bus transportation exists to safety transport students to and from school. |
5:45 | [Comment From Debra] So, if the state doesn't require we provide transportation, does that mean they don't pay for it? |
5:46 | Sally McLean: Actually, IF transportation is provided, than the State is obligated to provide funding for transportation. Like so many of our current funding formulas, however, there is a significant gap between the actual costs and our state revenues. |
5:46 | [Comment From Hello] Maybe schools should start having more fundraisers to mpay for sports and new classroom materials |
5:48 | Sally McLean: Parents and students already provide a significant amount of support -- ranging from sending classroom supplies, to paying to participate in sports and engaging in a variety of fund raisers. This support has grown over the years. |
5:49 | Sally McLean: During the current times that we are all living in, when people are making very diffiuclt personal budget decisions, I'm not sure it's the right time to expect that more money can be generated through fund raisers. |
5:49 | [Comment From Destinee Miles] Hi I just wanted to ask what is going to be the main things being cut out of schools. |
5:51 | Sally McLean: At this point we don't know the answer to this question. Many things may change between now and April 28th, when the Superintendent releases his recommendation to the Board. If you have suggestions for reductions, please feel free to complete the input form. |
5:54 | [Comment From Destinee Miles] Ok. So how many jobs are in mind to be cut from the Federal Way school district |
5:56 | Sally McLean: Because all we know at this time is that we face a MINIMUM shortfall of $5 Million, there is no specific answer to that question at this time. I can share with you that during the 2003-04 state funding shortfall and a local impact of $6.4 Million, we reduced 99 positions. |
5:57 | [Comment From Guest] In addition to no COLA, if employees agreed to no raise for two years, would that help? |
5:59 | Sally McLean: There are some automatic increases built into almost all of our salary schedules. Any interruption would require negotiations with each of the nine unions. |
6:00 | Sally McLean: Thank you for your time this evening. Watch the web-site for future blog dates and times. |
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