Community included in school budgeting

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake school board members want the community involved as they prepare for potential state budget reductions.

The district posted a budget reduction survey online last week for residents to fill out confidentially, until Feb. 19. The survey asks residents to write down what expenditures they feel should be preserved, what the potential areas are for budget reduction or cost savings, the interest group they are in, the school they represent and has a box for additional comments.

“One of our goals as a district is to increase our communication with the community,” said Michelle Price, district superintendent. “Hearing from the community is important for us and will help us in the decision-making process.”

District members are also organizing a Budget Leadership Team, which will consist of the leadership of the unions, principals/managers and district office workers. The team is meeting next week.

“We want to work together with the community on planning the budget,” Price said. “We will be looking at their input and keeping them involved as we get information from the state.”

The goal of district members is to produce a balanced 2010-11 budget, keeping the students’ best interest in the center of the decision-making process.

“The board had a study session where we took a look at what is going on at the legislative level,” Price said. “We really reminded each other that this is a process and we need to have something in place that prioritizes certain things, so when final numbers from the state come in, we are ready to go.”

According to Gov. Chris Gregoire’s first budget proposal, Moses Lake School District could lose as much as $5.2 million, 7 percent of the district’s budget. Losses would include all day kindergarten, levy equalization and a reduction of 14 kindergarten through 12th grade teachers.

Gregoire’s second budget restored levy equalization, all day kindergarten and gifted programs. Final figures are expected in March as legislation wraps up.

“We need to plan for the worst case scenario and hope it will not be as negative as it looks,” Price said.

The budget for 2009-2010 is $74.6 million. About 82 percent of the budget goes toward paying a staff of 478 certified members and 468 classified members.

This year’s budget reductions included 12 teacher positions, building allocations, department allocations. Delays included computer labs, new curriculum adoption and bus purchase.

District members hope to educate the public on the State Legislature process as well.

“I think sometimes our community sees things in a different lens than (board members) do,” Price said. “If we receive any type of bond or grant, funds can only be used for what we requested the bond or grant for.”

Construction and other bond-related expenditures the district is carrying out include technology upgrades, safety and security upgrades and a new elementary school.

 ”We are going to take everything the community tells us to heart, but we also unfortunately have to weigh their input against these rules from the state,” Price said. “We want to continue to maintain essential services, programs and activities the public feels are important for our students.”