Orcas School Board goes to Olympia

Contributed by Janet Brownell

The Orcas Island School District (OISD) Board and Superintendent/Principal Barbara Kline spent February 8-9 at a Washington State School Directors’ Association/Washington Association of School Administrators Legislative Conference in Olympia.

Pictured above with Senator Kevin Ranker are Superintendent Kine, Directors Scott Lancaster, Janet Brownell, Charlie Glasser, Tony Ghazel and Keith Whitaker.

The purpose of the conference was to provide information on current state and federal legislative activities.  It was also an opportunity for the Board, and Ms. Kline, to visit with our local representatives:  Rep. Jeff Morris, Rep. Dave Quall and Sen. Kevin Ranker.

The conference highlighted several key issues relevant to public education. First, was an update by Marty Brown, Legislative Director for Governor Gregoire.  Mr. Brown talked about cuts to public school funding in the 2010-11 state budget, as well as the impact of the Federal stimulus package.  As to any Federal relief, it was the contention of Mr. Brown that this money would not be used to “backfill” cuts to the state’s education funding next year, but would be used to pay for the increase in the caseload brought on by current economic condition.

In other words, as more and more parents lose jobs, and their ability to pay for private education, enrollment in public schools will increase. The Federal money would most likely be used to fund an increased state public school population.  (The case load forecast by the state is due February 15^th.)  

Mr. Brown then talked about the Governor’s proposed cuts to education for the 2010-11 budget. These cuts would affect the Orcas Island schools directly with a reduction in I-728 funding (to lower classroom size) and cuts to teachers’ salaries (through a reduction of I-732 funding/COLA monies.)

The conference also addressed important, and conflicting, bills now before the Legislature.  The bills are known as the “Basic Education Task Force” bill (SB 5444/HB1410) and the “Full Funding Coalition” bill (SB 5607/HB 1817).  Both are prototypes for increased spending for our public schools.

“It is to the credit of our lawmakers that they are finally appreciating the state’s constitutional duty to ‘amply’ fund education,” says Janet Brownell, Chair OISD school board.  “While we are excited that our legislatures are looking to replace an antiquated and seriously flawed system of school funding, both bills have weaknesses,” says Brownell.

Many of the provisions in the Task Force bill create new programs and requirements for schools, districts, and employees, but there is no revenue source identified with the increased spending, nor is there a “null or void” clause which would relieve the districts of their responsibility to fund these increases if there no funding source. The Full Funding Coalition bill goes much further in funding our schools, however, it was written in June 2008 before the current economic condition of our state.

The OISD school board, and Ms. Kline, met with Representatives Morris and Quall, and Senator Ranker, to discuss their concerns over these two impending bills.  It was the opinion of all the lawmakers that: either the bills would die until such time funding was available; or there would be a third bill created from the best parts of both the Task Force and Full Funding bills.

As increased funding of public schools is tied to increased revenue, and the state is facing a possible $8 billion deficit, it was apparent to the OISD school board that even if a compromise bill was forthcoming, any money to our schools would be some time off.  With that in mind, the OISD made several suggestions to Morris, Quall, and Ranker for immediate relief.  The suggestions included:

1)    An “emergency” lift of our levy lid until such time full funding by the state was available.

2)    An “emergency” use of transportation vehicle funds to be used for the general fund instead of buying a new bus.  (This could free up almost $90,000 this year)

3)    Create flexibility in the kind of vehicles that are available for purchase, i.e.: allow the district to buy a van instead of a large school bus

4)    Extend remote and necessary funding (an enhancement over OISD’s current “Small school” funding to island districts with less than 1000 students.  This might be possibly tied to any reduction in ferry service

5)    Allow application to “Free and Reduced Lunch” students twice a year, rather than the current single application period.  This is especially critical in a time of economic hardship when the needs for “Free and Reduced” may grow over the school year.

All of these ideas would have immediate impact on the Orcas Schools and the legislators positively received all of the suggestions.