Moses Lake schools tighten up on budget

Administration considering cuts for next school year

MOSES LAKE — A Title I preschool program in the Larson Subdivision and special education assistants for handicapped students on bus routes could be on the chopping block as the Moses Lake School District considers budget cuts for next school year.

No final decisions have been made yet, but the trimming process is one many school districts across the state are facing in order to reduce expenses.

High costs are the result of increasing expenses for labor and benefits, and a decrease in state and federal monies for public school funding.

"Some of those districts are having more of a problem than we are because their enrollment is declining," said MLSD assistant superintendent of business and operations Monte Redal. "We have to tighten our belts but at least we're growing."

Redal projects the district will have spent roughly $1 million of its reserves by the end of the 2005-2006 school year to pay for increases in costs.

"If we don't change something it will be more next year," he said.

District administrators are in the process of looking at the budget for next year. A final budget has to be approved by Aug. 31.

"We're trying to make the cuts that don't affect the classroom rather than those that do affect the classroom," Redal said.

The district has met with school principals in the recent weeks to discuss the budget situation.

A comprehensive 18-month study at the state level called Washington Learns is examining Washington's education system in all areas of education, including the adequacy of public school funding.

Gov. Chris Gregoire appointed a steering committee to oversee the project.

The committee is made up of business, education and legislative leaders who have been working since last summer on the study which is expected to make recommendations to the Legislature in the 2007 session.

According the Washington Education Association, Washington spends $548 less per student than it did 14 years ago and receives the least compensation for education compared to other states on the west coast.

At the end of May the MLSD is taking part in interviews for the Washington Learns Finance Study, a component of the Washington Learns project. During that time district officials will be interviewed about whether or not they think funding for public education is sufficient.