Are school budget cuts and layoffs coming?
By Kraig Peck, WEA Uniserve staff person for NESPA and NSEA
Here's what we know. And here's what you can do to make the best of a bad situation.
STATE INCOME IS WAAAAAY DOWN.
Because of the decline in spending and real estate sales, State tax income is way down. That's what's behind the $8 billion (which may become as large as $9 billion) State budget shortfall. That's out of a total general fund (operations) budget of about $36 billion. It's a huge loss of revenue.
Washington, like most states, is being hit hard. But because of Washington's major reliance on the sales tax (and another tax similar to the sales tax - the Business and Occupations tax - which is a tax on the gross sales of businesses), Washington is hit harder.
We are one of six states without an income tax (Florida, Texas, Nevada, Tennessee, and South Dakota). Washington's sales tax revenue is very unstable, and declines precipitously in hard times - when the funds are most needed. (Also, our single reliance on a high sales tax means that average and low income people pay taxes of a much higher proportion of our income, compared to high income families).
Our State Constitution makes education the "paramount duty of the State". Yet we are 45th in the nation in per pupil expenditures! Though the State cannot cut what the Legislature inadequately defines as "basic education", they can cut plenty of education funding that is not defined as such - for example, Initiative 728 class size funding, our COLA's, our health care benefits, etc.
We need our Legislators to put a "revenue package" - a tax package - on the ballot for voter approval. Without additional revenues, we will be facing huge cuts.
* Please contact your legislators (again - if you already have) and the Governor. Tell them, "NOW IS THE TIME TO INVEST IN EDUCATION - NOT CUT IT." It's easy. Go to www.ourvoicewashingtonea.org or call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000. Either one will tell you who your Legislators are.
* When you are asked in March to sign a form, contributing $2.25 per month to WEA-Political Action Committee, it's a good investment. It's how we collectively provide support to candidates - Democratic and Republican - who support decent school funding. All of us must become advocates - for each other and for our students.
OBAMA'S STIMULUS LEGISLATION WILL HELP.
The increase of major federal education programs for Washington will be $1.72 billion - over two years. Here's how it breaks down:
The State Fiscal Stabilization Fund will be $1 billion for two years. (Some of this can go to programs other than K-12 funding.) In addition, Title I will generate $133 million and IDEA (special education) will generate $219 million over two years. School improvement grants will grow by $44.5 million.
The question now is how these funds will be distributed. In order to receive these funds, states will have to meet certain standards as will school districts. The Supt. of Public Instruction is working on this now.
These funds will save the jobs of thousands of educators and services to students, but considering that K-12 education is 40% of the State budget, it is not enough to make up for the revenue losses described above.
NSD'S BUDGET PRIORITIES WILL BE DECIDED SOON.
The School Board is seeking public input into budget priorities in case cuts are necessary. We have been told that they will ask you to prioritize about 40 specific programs/budget line items. Your input might make a difference in the outcome.
* Tuesday, March 3, Woodinville High School 7-9 PM Cafeteria
Tuesday, March 10, Bothell High School 7-9 PM Cafeteria
Tuesday, March 17, Inglemoor High School 7-9 PM Cafeteria
The Board is projecting a loss of another 183 students next year, in addition to a loss of almost 700 students since 2005-2006. No school district can indefinitely maintain its level of services without reducing costs in the face of substantial enrollment declines. Whether we like it or not, NSD needs to look at school closures, or cuts in educators and loss of services to students will result. The District has been making cuts in administration and facilities support for years.
We are carefully reviewing the budget and monitoring the situation to ensure that no unnecessary cuts are made. Last year, cuts were made to nurses, library assistants, and school office staff, even th0ugh there was no immediate budget need. (Our budget forecast was more accurate than the administration's!) Stay informed and get involved!
IF THERE ARE LAYOFFS, WHEN WILL WE KNOW?
After the Legislative Session ends (end of April is likely), the Board will review the situation. The Board will make its preliminary decisions on staffing levels for classified (including NESPA and NEOPA) and Certificated (NSEA) staff at the Board Meeting on Tuesday, May 26 at 7 PM in the Administration Center. Put it on your calendar.
Under our Collective Bargaining Agreement, before the end of the school year each of us will get a letter informing us of our status for next year. Displacement from one's school (due to enrollment declines, etc.) into another position are described in Article 20.60 of our Agreement. The layoff process is described in Article 29. Take a look at them. And contact your Legislators today (from home)!
Monday, February 2, 2009
A Call to Action
As you know, Washington ranks 45th in the nation in per-pupil spending and has the 46th largest class sizes in the country.
Our state continues to fall behind other states in providing the necessary funding to educate our students.
To address this issue, the WEA-Cascade UniServ Council has created a film entitled "A Call to Action". This film illustrates how underfunding impacts students, teachers, administrators and programs. Many classified and certified members have been showing the film to parent and community groups to raise awareness about the struggles we face because basic education is not adequately funded.
Please take a few moments (during non-work time) to watch "A Call to Action". It can be accessed by clicking on the link below.
http://www.vimeo.com/2671998
Our state continues to fall behind other states in providing the necessary funding to educate our students.
To address this issue, the WEA-Cascade UniServ Council has created a film entitled "A Call to Action". This film illustrates how underfunding impacts students, teachers, administrators and programs. Many classified and certified members have been showing the film to parent and community groups to raise awareness about the struggles we face because basic education is not adequately funded.
Please take a few moments (during non-work time) to watch "A Call to Action". It can be accessed by clicking on the link below.
http://www.vimeo.com/2671998
Friday, January 16, 2009
Technology Survey
*Do you have convenient access to the right computer to do your job?
*Take a 15 minute survey. Use the link below:
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB228PU89AG4R
*You can do this from work or from home.
*You have until Monday, February 9th, to do the survey.
Dear NESPA member:
Northshore is in the process of putting together another Technology Levy. We want to insure that the needs of NESPA members are included in this Levy, which is likely to be on the ballot in February next year.
Do you have access to a computer to effectively do your job?
What are your needs? We need this information from you!
NESPA has 2 representatives on the District committee that is putting together the recommendation for what this levy should include. We will do our best to get the levy to include your needs, but we must know what they are.
Please take a 15 minute Zoomerang survey that NESPA's Technology Committee has developed. Use the link above. Once you start the survey, you will need to finish it as it can't be saved, so be sure you have the time to do it.
Members of the NESPA Technology Committee are: Pauline Spyridis (Special Ed Para, Moorlands), Joanne Allen (LAP Tutor/Para, Canyon Park Junior High), Kathy Boyle, School Technology Specialist and TRT, Arrowhead), Susan WAtkins (SLP Para, Woodmoor), Jeani Schwenk (Interpreter, Kokanee), Nancy Celms (School Technology Specialist, Sunrise), and Anne Deutschman (School Technology Specialist, Woodmoor).
If you would like to join us in this important effort, please contact one of us.
Craig Danter, Co-Chair NESPA Technology Committee, Special Ed Para, Bothell High School
Karen Kohler, Co-Chair NESPA Technology Committee, Technology Specialist, Hollywood Hill
*Take a 15 minute survey. Use the link below:
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB228PU89AG4R
*You can do this from work or from home.
*You have until Monday, February 9th, to do the survey.
Dear NESPA member:
Northshore is in the process of putting together another Technology Levy. We want to insure that the needs of NESPA members are included in this Levy, which is likely to be on the ballot in February next year.
Do you have access to a computer to effectively do your job?
What are your needs? We need this information from you!
NESPA has 2 representatives on the District committee that is putting together the recommendation for what this levy should include. We will do our best to get the levy to include your needs, but we must know what they are.
Please take a 15 minute Zoomerang survey that NESPA's Technology Committee has developed. Use the link above. Once you start the survey, you will need to finish it as it can't be saved, so be sure you have the time to do it.
Members of the NESPA Technology Committee are: Pauline Spyridis (Special Ed Para, Moorlands), Joanne Allen (LAP Tutor/Para, Canyon Park Junior High), Kathy Boyle, School Technology Specialist and TRT, Arrowhead), Susan WAtkins (SLP Para, Woodmoor), Jeani Schwenk (Interpreter, Kokanee), Nancy Celms (School Technology Specialist, Sunrise), and Anne Deutschman (School Technology Specialist, Woodmoor).
If you would like to join us in this important effort, please contact one of us.
Craig Danter, Co-Chair NESPA Technology Committee, Special Ed Para, Bothell High School
Karen Kohler, Co-Chair NESPA Technology Committee, Technology Specialist, Hollywood Hill
School Funding Facts
Please share this info with your friends, neighbors, and Legislators
"There is no greater return to an economy or to a society than an educational system second to none." John F. Kennedy
Sacrificing the best solution we have to secure a better future for the state is not acceptable."
WEA President Mary Lindquist
Our State Constitution is one of the best in the nation: Washington State Constitution, Article IX:
It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders, without distinction or preference on account of race, color, caste, or sex.
And yet:
*Class Size: Washington state class sizes are 46th in the nation. (Four states are worse.)
*Investment: Washington state ranks 45th in per pupil expenditures.
*Spending Decreases: Washington state spends about 40% of the state budget on K-12 education (07-09). In the early 80's (82-83), the State spent 50% of the budget on K-12.
*Compensation: Washington state teacher salaries are dead last on the West Coast (including California, Oregon, Hawaii, and Alaska). Educational support employee salaries have fallen in comparison to average salaries in Washington.
*Curriculum: The state provides $42 per year per student for curriculum materials, enabling school districts to replace curriculum every 18 years.
WASHINGTON CAN AFFORD A GREAT EDUCATION SYSTEM:
*Washington ranks 12th in per capita income.
*Washington is one of 6 states without an income tax. (Others: Florida, Tennessee, South
Dakota, Texas, and Nevada.
*Because Washington relies on the sales tax, we have the most regressive tax system in the
nation. Low and middle income people pay a higher percentage of their income in state and local taxes, while the highest income pay a lower percentage than in any other state.
*Washington state has billions of dollars of tax loopholes on its books that need re-evaluation to determine their value to the economy.
"There is no greater return to an economy or to a society than an educational system second to none." John F. Kennedy
Sacrificing the best solution we have to secure a better future for the state is not acceptable."
WEA President Mary Lindquist
Our State Constitution is one of the best in the nation: Washington State Constitution, Article IX:
It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders, without distinction or preference on account of race, color, caste, or sex.
And yet:
*Class Size: Washington state class sizes are 46th in the nation. (Four states are worse.)
*Investment: Washington state ranks 45th in per pupil expenditures.
*Spending Decreases: Washington state spends about 40% of the state budget on K-12 education (07-09). In the early 80's (82-83), the State spent 50% of the budget on K-12.
*Compensation: Washington state teacher salaries are dead last on the West Coast (including California, Oregon, Hawaii, and Alaska). Educational support employee salaries have fallen in comparison to average salaries in Washington.
*Curriculum: The state provides $42 per year per student for curriculum materials, enabling school districts to replace curriculum every 18 years.
WASHINGTON CAN AFFORD A GREAT EDUCATION SYSTEM:
*Washington ranks 12th in per capita income.
*Washington is one of 6 states without an income tax. (Others: Florida, Tennessee, South
Dakota, Texas, and Nevada.
*Because Washington relies on the sales tax, we have the most regressive tax system in the
nation. Low and middle income people pay a higher percentage of their income in state and local taxes, while the highest income pay a lower percentage than in any other state.
*Washington state has billions of dollars of tax loopholes on its books that need re-evaluation to determine their value to the economy.
Be Web Smart!
Many of us have Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter accounts. Others have personal blogs. While these social networking tools allow us to be more connected to friends and family, they also make our private lives more visible to parents, students, and employers. Google your name from time to time to see what comes up.
Be smart about what you post on your personal sites. If a photo or story you want to post could cause you or others embarrassment, could be incriminating, or is better off left private, don't share it. If you feel you want to share information that may be more personal in nature, make your account off limits to the general public. Many sites allow you to make your account private, open only to those you personally invite.
Make sure you update your personal sites on your own time, using your own personal computer equipment. Remember that your NSD email account is the property of the Northshore School District and is not to be considered private or confidential.
Be smart about what you post on your personal sites. If a photo or story you want to post could cause you or others embarrassment, could be incriminating, or is better off left private, don't share it. If you feel you want to share information that may be more personal in nature, make your account off limits to the general public. Many sites allow you to make your account private, open only to those you personally invite.
Make sure you update your personal sites on your own time, using your own personal computer equipment. Remember that your NSD email account is the property of the Northshore School District and is not to be considered private or confidential.
Saving Money
How to save more with Washington's pre-tax savings/investment accounts for educators & public employees -
If you are saving money for a long-term purpose, you can benefit from checking out the Washington State Department of Retirement System's Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). With a DCP account, you can save on a pre-tax basis. That means that your savings are deposited from your pay warrant without any taxes or social security deducted. Thus, you earn interest on a larger deposit. (Note: You will pay taxes when you withdraw the funds.) Go to www.dcp.csplans.com for more information.
Key information to keep in mind about the DCP:
*You can invest in a variety of stocks, bonds, or a Savings Pool administered by the same people who administer your State pension. DCP is public and not-for-profit. The fees for the Savings Pool or the Bond Fund are miniscule (.13%) and other investments have fees that are generally lower than what can be found elsewhere. The Savings Pool has been earning almost 5% per year for the past few years, and is like a money-market fund. These investments are not guaranteed by the FCIC.
*You can invest from $30 per month up to $16,500 per year (and another $5,500 if over 50 years old). This might also be a good option for you or your family because it is in addition to limits on 401(k) and IRA deposits.
*Unlike a Plan 3 Self-Directed Account or a 403(b) investment, you can withdraw funds before retirement age without a penalty. You simply pay taxes. You can withdraw any or all of your funds when you stop working as an educator - at any age. You can also withdraw funds while you continue to work as an educator under certain conditions: If your total account does not exceed $5,000 and if you have not contributed for 2 years and if you have made no such previous "in-service withdrawal".
*You can change or stop your contribution and your investment selections at any time, without a fee.
*DCP is available only to educators and other public employees in Washington.
NESPA is providing this information so that you are aware of these State-provided options for educators Please read the information at www.dcp.csplans.com for complete details before making any decision.
If you are saving money for a long-term purpose, you can benefit from checking out the Washington State Department of Retirement System's Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). With a DCP account, you can save on a pre-tax basis. That means that your savings are deposited from your pay warrant without any taxes or social security deducted. Thus, you earn interest on a larger deposit. (Note: You will pay taxes when you withdraw the funds.) Go to www.dcp.csplans.com for more information.
Key information to keep in mind about the DCP:
*You can invest in a variety of stocks, bonds, or a Savings Pool administered by the same people who administer your State pension. DCP is public and not-for-profit. The fees for the Savings Pool or the Bond Fund are miniscule (.13%) and other investments have fees that are generally lower than what can be found elsewhere. The Savings Pool has been earning almost 5% per year for the past few years, and is like a money-market fund. These investments are not guaranteed by the FCIC.
*You can invest from $30 per month up to $16,500 per year (and another $5,500 if over 50 years old). This might also be a good option for you or your family because it is in addition to limits on 401(k) and IRA deposits.
*Unlike a Plan 3 Self-Directed Account or a 403(b) investment, you can withdraw funds before retirement age without a penalty. You simply pay taxes. You can withdraw any or all of your funds when you stop working as an educator - at any age. You can also withdraw funds while you continue to work as an educator under certain conditions: If your total account does not exceed $5,000 and if you have not contributed for 2 years and if you have made no such previous "in-service withdrawal".
*You can change or stop your contribution and your investment selections at any time, without a fee.
*DCP is available only to educators and other public employees in Washington.
NESPA is providing this information so that you are aware of these State-provided options for educators Please read the information at www.dcp.csplans.com for complete details before making any decision.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Happy New Year NESPA members! Stay tuned for updated union information.
NOTE: Schools were closed for three days in December due to snow. To make up these days, school will now be open on :
Monday, January 5
Friday, April 3
Tuesday, May 26
Remember that Friday, March 20th is NESPA Day. Thanks to Suzanne Ducotey and Cyndee Wells for organizing this event.
NOTE: Schools were closed for three days in December due to snow. To make up these days, school will now be open on :
Monday, January 5
Friday, April 3
Tuesday, May 26
Remember that Friday, March 20th is NESPA Day. Thanks to Suzanne Ducotey and Cyndee Wells for organizing this event.
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