NORTHSHORE HAS SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO TRANSITION TO A COMPENSATION MODEL THAT RESPECTS AND VALUES ALL NORTHSHORE STAFF.
Times are hard, and more State cuts are expected. That means that all of us---including the School Board—need to be realistic about what’s possible. The District has limited funds, which is not the same as “no money”. Northshore does have the funds to reach an agreement with its 460 Educational Support Professionals. Northshore educators are aware of the need to balance current and future needs and spending.
The cost of bringing all Educational Support Professionals up to the level of NSD’s lowest paid custodians is about $265,000. The cost of benefits for one person is about $10,000. Thus, the cost of combining hours, and enabling 20 more staff to get benefits next year would be $200,000.
Federal Education Jobs Fund: This month (November), Northshore will receive $4 million from the Federal Education Jobs Fund, from legislation passed in August. Washington educators relentlessly emailed Congress to win these funds—which have basically fallen in the lap of the District. According to the Dept. of Education, they are for “compensation and benefits and other expenses such as support services” (U.S. Dept of Education guidance, page 6). And they must be spent by the end of the 2011-12 school year. Yet, the School Board is considering banking the entire amount, to offset potential State cuts. But there are other funds available to offset such cuts. A small portion of this $4 million would enable us to transition to a fair compensation model.
Regular Levy: The February Levy, for which educators made thousands of phone calls, raises $2.5 million more next year. And an additional $1.75 million on top of that the following year. And an additional increase of $1.5 million on top of that, the following year. This is not a huge sum, but neither is it “no money.”
Supplemental Levy: The August Supplemental Levy can be used to offset anticipated State cuts. It will raise $4.5 million in calendar year 2011, and about $2.5 million in each of the following 3 years. Note that the total amount of “Non-Basic Education” State funding for Northshore---the amount the State can be cut without violating the State Constitution—is $2.8 million currently.
Reserves: One of the first actions of this new School Board was to ratify the previous Board’s decision to increase the amount it banks for ongoing reserves from 2% to 3%. This 1% increase is about $1.8 million in ongoing reserves that are banked, instead of used to address needs. Yet the District has never had a need for a reserve this large. These ongoing funds can be used to meet many needs.
Ending Fund Balance: Because of the way Northshore chooses to budget, there are millions of dollars left over at the end of each year above the amount budgeted for the Ending Fund Balance. There is a cushion of several million here alone.
Our community deserves better from our School Board and Superintendent. Contact them with the message, “It’s time to respect and value Northshore’s Educational Support Professionals.” You can email the entire Board at schoolboard@nsd.org.
Contact the Northshore School District Board of Directors & Superintendent:
Julia Lacey
206-391-5771
sbdistrict1@nsd.org
Janet Quinn
425-408-7687
sbdistrict2@nsd.org
Dawn McCravey
425-402-9046
Sbdistrict3@nsd.org
Sandy Hayes
425-408-7690
sbdistrict4@nsd.org
Todd Banks
425-408-7691
sbdistrict5@nsd.org
Larry Francois, Superintendent
425-408-7701
lfrancois@nsd.org
