With commencement ceremonies for Highline high schools looming on June 16 and 17, a number of twelfth-graders and their parents are breathing a sigh of relief.

The Class of 2008 is the first group of seniors in the state required to pass the reading and writing sections of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) in order to graduate.

Results for seniors who needed to retake the WASL tests were released last week.

Superintendent John Welch reported to board members on May 28 that 76 percent of the 86 students who retook the WASL reading test passed. Of the 91 who retook the writing portion, 82 percent passed.

"We are pleased to see such a large number," Welch said. "But we still have work to do."

Welch noted that 45 percent of the students who did not meet state standards are special education students while 32 percent are English Language Learner students.

Welch said district staffers have been working closely with the students since last fall to help them meet the state standards.

He also noted that some students have passed the WASL tests, but do not have enough class credits to graduate.

The district's on-time graduation rate is 70 percent, according to Welch. Counting students who will take more than four years of high school to graduate, Highline has an 80 percent graduation rate, he reported.

The superintendent expressed regret that 30 percent of Highline students will not graduate on time but said the figure in past years has been around 60 percent.

Welch also reported administrators are continuing to work on the budget for the coming school year. The district faces a $3.5 million shortfall.

Comments from teachers and a parent at the regular meeting centered on plans to save $500,000 by eliminating six elementary counselor positions.

Janie Lemley, Marvista Elementary kindergarten teacher, said counselors are "the heart and soul of our elementary, middle and high schools."

Welch noted a grant to pay for some counselors ended last year and the district has used a Medicaid matching grant to fund them this year. The district has applied for a three-year grant and will know soon whether the district will receive the money.

At a board study session before the regular meeting, Welch noted that the district employs more counselors than required in the district's contract with the Highline Education Association, so there is some flexibility in counselor staffing.

"With our declining financial situation, we need flexibility," Welch added.

He told board members, "I don't see us keeping all 18 (counselors.)"

Counselors would be assigned based on student needs, although he admitted determining where counselors are most needed could be "dicey."

Also at the regular board meeting, technology director Mark Finstrom briefed board members on the district's technology upgrades.