When the OISD Board met with experts Amy Skei, Governor Chris Gregoire’s executive policy advisor on Budget K-12 and Jim Kowalkowski, appointed Basic Education Advisor to the Governor and Director of the Rural Education Center, the board had a number of suggestions and recommendations, and a few questions for the state experts.
Janet Brownell noted that OISD is “a high-achieving, small district, with excellence from woodshop to AP calculus.” With the triple whammy of paying for COLAs and pensions and dropping enrollment, she said, “the state is asking us to become a mediocre district.”
Keith Whitaker noted one aspect of the funding problem was the desirabilty of Orcas Island drawing many experienced teachers to the district. Their retirement benefits and sick leave buy back, including those benefits earned at other districts, must ultimately be absorbed by the OISD. He also noted that just the cost of doing business is higher on Orcas Island, with athletic travel and district experts often involving ferry transportation.
Several board members brought up the problems related to Special Education costs, with the “artificial” limit of 12.7 percent of the district budget being funded for those costs.
Tony Ghazel and others stated that equalization of school levies across the state “has been completely out of context. The issue is, why can’t the local community support the local district?”
Whitaker said that the amount of money needed to fund Basic Education is $2.2 billion, and with a projected deficit, “In terms of common sense, the state can’t afford any solution. But if we could pass a $2.50 levy rather than 49 cents, we’d have a solution for Orcas.”
Kowalkowski stated that the theory behind equalization is that it levels the field for poor districts whose communities may not support levies, and further, that education is the state’s responsibility.
But Ghazel countered that a levy lift would provide “a method of relief for this year.” He inquired if the meeting with the Governor’s representatives was “just another meeting,” and asked them, “What is your task here?”
Skai replied that they hoped to hear specifics to formulate feedback to the Basic Education Task Force.
Kowalkowski said that he’d been appointed by the governor to address the needs of rural education. He reiterated that the “paramount duty of the state is education” and floated the idea that that should have first priority in funding, followed by prisons, transportation, and other issues.
Glasser described a fundamental “disconnect” between the work of the legislators in defining and funding basic education, and the reality on the ground. The result is unfunded state mandates.”
As a case in point, Glasser referred to the deferred Cost-of-living allowances (COLAs) that were passed this year but not funded for those teachers who’d been hired by districts using the I-728 funding, which had been legislated to decrease class sizes.
Glasser pointed out that in discussions earlier this spring with Dave Quall, Washington House Education Chair and Jeff Morris, House Speaker Pro Tem, the two state legislators seemed unaware of the budget problems facing rural districts such as Orcas. Glasser said, “They’re supposed to know this budget cold … why did this disconnect happen? We’re looking for a quick fix of some kind now, and leave the long-term solution in your capable hands.”
Kowalkowski said that they were charged with making at least two, but no more than four recommendations to the Task Force this fall (for the legislature to take action upon in the 2009 session). The OISD board proposed some of the following solutions;
• Modifying the laws to equalize educational spending state-wide through tax levies, with the result being redistribution based on the relative costs of doing business in different locations;
• Adjusting the payment of school administrators (In some districts, principals earn less than teachers;
• Increasing the levy lid on a district-by-district case, and redefining it to supplement Basic Education, rather than for athletic purposes – its original purpose;
• Funding Special Education adequately, and rethinking the discrepancy between “Basic” and “Special” education;
• Releasing transportation funds so that OISD can purchase smaller buses for their own needs. “If we can do something else with that money, it would make a big difference,” said Whitaker;
• Redefining the OISD as a “remote and necessary” district rather than a small high school. “Having that funding change would be significant,” said Brownell, adding that the idea originated with Business office accountant Sara Morgan;
• Budgeting on a two- or three-year cycle in recognition that funding is now determined (by Aug. 1) before enrollment numbers are known (Brownell credited Ben Thomas with this idea);
• “Sunsetting” the levy increase issue when “Basic Ed gets its act together,” said Glasser;
• Using standard accounting practices and updating state financial software.
Ghazel said that the last recommendation would help the district tremendously, and compared the cost of equalizing school administrators’ pay (at $60 million) with the $159 million dollar cost of remodeling the Anacortes ferry terminal (a plan now on hold).
Glasser told the governor’s representatives, “We’ve done our homework. [Business Manager] Ben Thomas and the Budget Advisory Committee did tremendous work in tearing the budget apart and putting it together right.”
Brownell said, “Washington State should lead the country in public education funding. It is politically advantageous to redefine basic education and project the state as number one in public education by 2015.”
Public comment
Marilyn Sollers of the NW Education Services District asked what the staffing levels were when the COLAs for I-728 was passed, and suggested that a fund to pay COLAs for all positions, including those hired with I-728 funds, “could be a huge relief valve, statewide.”
Sollers also noted that non-employee related costs (NERCs) were funded in 1977, “when there was no technology funding.”
Cathy Ferran asked that the representatives look closely at the relationship with Educational Service Districts and the school districts they represent, saying that the services offered by ESD were “expensive help.”
Sollers said that the NW ESD was operating on a break-even basis, having been charged by the legislators to increase their duties with no increase in funding.
Kari Schuh, Career and Technology Education Director for the OISD said, that like many OISD teachers, she oversees a variety of classes, and added, “I get rif’d practically every year.”
She said that her CTE budget is not fully funded because she often can’t fill a class with the required number of students for funding (19). Schuh added, “if you’re looking at the OISD as a case study, the budget doesn’t tell the entire story. The community is always involved in fund-raising; parents and families pay for athletic fees and travel and school supplies; teachers invest in curriculum materials and volunteer at no pay for many events – I’m not the only one doing it.”
Brownell agreed that sizable donations are coming to the district from the private sector, and said, “The community would support a higher levy, but if we let the schools degrade, there won’t be that support.
“We’re at a tipping point.”
