Officials in Lake Washington and Issaquah School Districts Face Implementing State Budget Cuts

In the and , the dollar amounts that need to be sliced to help bridge the more than $5 billion state shortfall - which has haunted and daunted - are now known.

In Lake Washington, it is about $5.1 million for each of the two next academic years, the district reported Wednesday. In Issaquah, that amount is more than $4.3 million.

The question, though, is exactly how those cuts will materialize in budgets and what type of response – if there is one – parents or community groups in the districts, which serve Sammamish, will mount.

“Plans for how these reductions will be implemented are yet to be developed,” the Lake Washington School District said in a Wednesday statement.

But the Redmond-based district said there will be fewer dollars to keep kindergarten through fourth grade class sizes smaller.

The state also is chopping $2 million that went to Lake Washington salaries, which has been interpreted as a 1.9 percent pay cut for teachers and staff and a 3 percent reduction for administrators.

In the Issaquah School District, the board voted in April to remove $2.74 million from the upcoming academic year's budget. That dollar amount included the loss of 36 jobs for teachers - or a "Reduction in Force."

Issaquah spokeswoman Sara Niegowski said this week that the reduction still stands and teachers who will be released from their jobs have received notification.

But between now and August, she said in an email, "The original financial plan will be amended as we incorporate the actual state budget."

On the face of it, the difference between $4.3 million and $2.74 million is more than $1.5 million. 

It remained unclear Wednesday whether any of the teachers who will lose jobs will be called back after financial numbers are scrubbed and before the district budget is approved.

But a review is underway. "Now we begin the process of reconciling staffing and seeing how many can be recalled," Niegowski wrote in her email.

That means students, teachers, parents and community members will likely have to attend school board meetings or review documents on district websites to see what proposals unfold and to weigh the merits of the plans.

It could turn into some grim meetings or reading.

Already, the issue of money owed to the Issaquah School District surfaced Wednesday in a email to students. Administrators reported that 848 Skyline students owe fines, which total $75,582.

“We don’t want students disappointed that they can’t purchase Prom tickets, can’t get their yearbook, can’t participate in graduation, can’t turn out for sports for next year, etc. without clearing these fines,” Skyline administrators wrote in their email.

What is also known is that district officials have voiced unequivocal displeasure at receiving fewer state dollars.

“This additional cut further erodes the funding we receive to provide a basic education to our students,” Janene Fogard, Lake Washington deputy superintendent, said in a statement.

Officials from both districts have said or hinted that higher budget cuts in the state Senate plan were essentially a violation of the state constitution.

What is not known, though, is whether there is legal standing or willingness to act on this argument now - or whether any party will pursue it.

Complicating the matter is that budgets for the upcoming academic year for both districts need to be approved by the end of August.

In March, Sammamish Deputy Mayor Tom Odell said the drop in state money would put more pressure on PTSA groups and school foundations.

In both districts, PTSA groups and the foundations are influential. The Lake Washington Schools Foundation reported that it raised $144,500 at an April luncheon.

Issaquah Schools Foundation Development Manager Lynn Juniel said Tuesday it might be challenging for her group to fill the hole left by the state budget cut because the amount is "millions" of dollars.

But, she added, the Foundation has helped raise money for school programs – which frees up the district to spend the dollars on other programs or for staff salaries.

In recent academic years, the Issaquah Schools Foundation contributed at least $700,000 to student programs in district schools, she said. This academic year, the Foundation has raised and kicked in more than $1 million. 

“We work closely with the district, talking about cuts,” she said.

“Our executive director and our board director will talk with the district and say: How can we help? Then, we send a message to the community.”

Editor's note: State lawmakers on Wednesday evening passed the compromise budget bill, The Seattle Times reported. State lawmakers made more than $4 billion in cuts. On Thursday, the Issaquah School District announced changes based on the approved state budget.