To accompany her Dec. 8 board presentation on the district's upcoming budget situation, Highline Public Schools finance director Susan Smith Leland thought she had come up with the perfect graphic -an illustration of a black hole.

Using her "crystal ball," Leland said she expects the potential reduction in state funds to Highline will be $7 million for the 2011-2012 budget.

The district's "saving grace" could be voter approval of the school programs levy in February, according to Leland. That would bring in an additional $4 million to offset some of the $7 million loss.
State officials are also considering reducing the required school year from 180 days to 175 days to save money, Leland noted.

Leland reported the state Legislature is facing a $1.1 billion budget shortfall for the final seven months of this budget year. Because the state budget must be balanced, the state is required to make mid-year reductions to schools and state agencies.

The state Legislature met in a special one-day session on Dec. 11 and trimmed the shortfall by about $700 million. That included about $50 million for public schools. As part of the cut, the state lawmakers eliminated funding to keep class sizes smaller in K-4 classrooms.

The Legislature's action also reapplied $208 million in federal education grants. Local schools, including Highline, had hoped to save the money to offset expected cuts in the next two-year budget.

Gov. Chris Gregoire unveiled her budget proposals for the next biennium budget on Dec. 15.
Her proposed cuts to public schools include eliminating K-4 class reduction funds; suspending Initiative 728, which provided money to reduce class sizes; suspending Initiative 732, which provided cost-of-living increases for teachers; suspending planned increases in all-day kindergarten; suspending annual bonuses for National Board certified teachers; suspending annual step increases for teachers and eliminating the gifted-student program.
These proposed changes would cut $1.5 billion from public schools.

The Legislature will reconvene Jan. 10 and even more drastic cuts are expected in the next biennium budget.

That means Highline will have to make mid-year cuts in the budget approved last August.

"We will have to move pretty quickly," Superintendent John Welch declared. "The options are limited in the mid-year because we have already signed the (labor) contracts."

Welch said he expects the state to cut payments on any items considered outside of "basic education."
Highline Education Association president Stacie Hawkins suggested administrators look at current consultant costs in considering budget cuts.

Welch also announced he will not seek Teach for America recruits to staff Highline schools. Federal Way has agreed to take 5-10 program participants.

The program uses recent college graduates without teaching certificates who agree to teach in struggling schools for two years. The recruits also agree to pursue teaching credentials.

The superintendent said he had hoped to find some recruits with science degrees to teach in hard to fill subjects such as math or science. He also said utilizing the program might be a way to get more people of color teaching in Highline schools.

But he said Teach for America officials could not guarantee the type of recruits that would be sent to Highline.

Board members also heard a report on the new building planned for Aviation High School, across from Tukwila's Museum of Flight.

The school, currently housed at the Olympic site in Des Moines, is an alternative aviation-themed school administered by the Highline School District.

A new building is planned along the west side of East Marginal Way. It will connect with the museum's space gallery.

Facilities director Andrea Johnson reported that in exchange for letting the museum use school facilities, the museum would lease the building to the district for $1 for up to 30 years.

If adequate funding is obtained, construction is set to begin in August with classes starting in spring 2013.
Johnson said $22 million more is needed to be raised for the $43.5 million project.

The public-private project receives funding from the state Legislature, private fundraising, the Port of Seattle, Highline School District and the federal government.

The $10 million pledged by the Port has already been paid.

Private donations have raised $9 million of the $15 million goal.

"In the current climate, its been more challenging than people thought for the private campaign," Welch noted.

James and Sherry Raisbeck and their foundation have pledged $4 million for the project. James Raisbeck is a world-renowned aerodynamicist and entrepreneur. He is most well known for founding Raisbeck Engineering Inc., which engineers and manufactures performance improvement systems for thousands of business and commercial aircraft worldwide.

The school will be named Raisbeck Aviation High School.

Welch said spring is a critical time to obtain needed funding in order to stay on schedule.