Highland Terrace PTA

Highland Terrace PTA

School Closure and Budget Crisis Summary

Posted on Author Highland Terrace PTAPosted in Advocacy

Highland Terrace is one of three schools on the potential school closure list. 

Do you feel like you understand the process and what is coming next?

Have you learned about the budget crisis that got us here?

SCHOOL CLOSURE CONVERSATION

  • 10/1 Meeting Update: Echo Lake was removed from consideration. Highland Terrace, Syre, and Brookside are still being considered for closure
  • The next steps in narrowing the list to one school:
    • October 2-9: Begin to draft example boundary scenarios for schools being considered
    • October 10 (Task Force Meeting): Deliberation and vote to  identify 1-2 additional schools to remove from further consideration; provide input on example boundary scenarios
    • October 11-14: Finalize boundary models
    • October 15 and 24 (Task Force Meetings): Review example boundary scenarios; deliberation and vote to achieve final recommendation
    • October 29 (School Board Meeting): Recommendation to School Board
    • November –  February: Public hearings, boundary process 
    • Board action (January 14 or 28 Regular Meeting): School closure decision, Boundary decision
  • Full information about the School Closure Committee is found here. 
  • District Frequently Asked Questions about the potential school closure 
  • Shoreline PTA Council Frequently Asked Questions – the Shoreline PTA Council is the liaison between the WA State PTA and the local school PTA units
  • Advocacy and questions should happen now and not at the meeting as there isn’t really a public comment option. So ask your questions and raise your concerns about the process or criteria now: Superintendent Reyes (susana.reyes@ssd412.org), Assistant Superintendent Brian Schultz (brian.schultz@ssd412.org) and Public Information Officer Rachel Belfield (rachel.belfield@ssd412.org). Families can also request a small focus group for further discussion. 

DISTRICT BUDGET CRISIS

If you haven’t read anything about the larger district budget crisis, it’s time. Two great places to start are here: Shoreline PTA Council Legislative Advocacy and 24-25 Budget Recommendation Presentation. 

Here are the key points to understand:

  • State Funding Issues: Washington State public schools are chronically underfunded. 
  • According to School Board Director Sara Betnel, the state has decreased its funding investments by 7% over the past several years. 
  • Even with increased enrollment, this won’t solve the budget issue as the state doesn’t fully fund its own mandated programs, let alone non-mandated services. 
  • Shoreline SD’s largest funding gaps are:
    • Salary and benefit expenses exceed state funding by $27 million.
    • Materials, supplies, and operating costs (includes insurance and utilities) exceed state funding by $2.2 million.
    • Legally mandated special education services for students exceed state and federal funding by $8 million.
    • Substitute costs exceed state funding by $1.2 million because they only cover 4 of a teacher’s 12 days of paid time off.
  • Limited Revenue Options: The district’s main approach to increasing revenue is lobbying the state to fully fund schools, especially for unfunded mandates. The district is also seeking state and federal grants.
    • Current Levy: The district’s current levy doesn’t expire until 2026, and no additional levy funds can be collected until 2027. When asked if the levy could be increased to address the budget shortfall, the district explained that even if voters approve a higher levy rate in the future, no additional funds would be available until 2027. This limits the district’s ability to address the current funding gap in the short term.
    • Selling district property isn’t a viable solution for the budget shortfall since proceeds must go to the capital projects fund, not the general operating fund.
  • Binding Conditions: Significant cuts must happen to avoid binding conditions so we can continue providing high-quality education to our students.
  • Unspecified Cost-Cutting Measures: Beyond a potential school closure, the district has not shared specific cost-cutting measures beyond mentioning that any reductions would involve deep cuts in staffing and non-mandated programs like athletics, music, and art. A school closure will only make up a quarter of the $4 million dollar deficit. You can email and ask the school board and district to share these potential reductions with the community.
  • Enrollment Trends and Initiatives: While enrollment is increasing in nearby districts like Granite Falls and Lake Stevens, it’s decreasing in most other local districts, including ours, due to cost of living increases/housing affordability. To boost enrollment, the Shoreline district has opened up enrollment to students from outside its boundaries, including those impacted by potential Seattle school closures.

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Use your voice and take action! Share what you are learning about how public education is underfunded in this state and ask our legislators to make changes. 

Subscribe to the Shoreline PTA Action Network – Action alert emails include quick and easy ways to communicate with legislators and keep public education at the top of their priority list. Their email campaign to legislators will begin after approval at the Shoreline PTA Council GM Meeting on 11/25/24 in preparation for the 2025 legislative session.

Write to your elected officials and let them know how much this matters!

While funding changes can’t be made until the next legislative session (January 13-April 27, 2025), your voice can bring a spotlight on the issues our legislators should focus on.

  •  Local representatives for Shoreline’s 32nd Legislative District:
  • Federal Legislators: Find Your Member
    • Ask them about IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) funding. Under IDEA, the federal government committed to paying 40% of the average per-pupil expenditure for special education. However, that pledge has never been met, and current funding is at less than 13%. Ask the federal government to fully fund its agreed upon share which would fill many districts’ special education funding gaps.
  • Consider reaching out to Governor Inslee, the two top candidates in the upcoming governor’s race (Bob Ferguson and Dave Reichert), and State Superintendent Chris Reykdal.

Attend Events

  • School Closure Committee Meeting: The goal is to narrow the list to one school.
    • October 10, 5:00 – 7:00 PM,  Shoreline Center (18560 1st Ave. NE)
  • School Funding Town Hall:  A Washington Education Association (WEA) sponsored Town Hall on School Funding for Edmonds, Northshore, and Shoreline School Districts. This is a kick-off to conversations with lawmakers about the impacts of the lack of investment in our districts, schools, and students. It is a joint effort of educators and leaders in the three districts, and legislators from 1st, 21st, 32nd, 44th, and 45th legislative districts have been invited. 

What to learn more?