Edmonds School District Concerned About Budget Proposal

Edmonds School District officials worry that proposed cuts to education could hurt local schools and student achievement.

Both the House and Senate proposed budgets reduce school funding. The Senate budget, released Wednesday, includes a $95 million cut in K-12 funding related to average daily attendance at schools. So, if a student missed a day of school without a valid excuse, the school would receive less money.

The Senate also proposed cutting pay for K-12 teachers and staff members by 3 percent. Both the House and Senate budgets also reduce money aimed at reducing K-4 class sizes.

The House and Senate must now reconcile the two budgets by the end of the legislative session, which closes on April 24.

Both the Washington Education Association and the Edmonds School District are opposed to the proposed cuts. Edmonds School District spokeswoman DJ Jakala said the district is particularly concerned about the proposal to penalize districts based on students cutting classes. They worry that the legislation would harm the students most at risk of not graduating. Edmonds has been successful in recent years in seeing its graduation rate climb—it's currently 86.3 percent, up from 67.5 percent just over six years ago—and the district wants to continue on that path.

"In the last six years, we have succeeded in raising our graduation rates to their highest percentages, and disagree with any funding cut that would interfere with our ability to reach those students who are most likely to need additional outreach and support," Jakala said via email. "Without funding, we cannot carry forward with those programs that are making a difference."