The Renton School District will hold public meetings to discuss where the additional $850,000 cuts to this year’s budget should come from and it will ask for community and staff input on budget priorities for next year’s budget.
The additional $850,000 is the result of continued loss of state revenue and the passage of Initiative 1107 in the November election, when voters voted down taxes on candy, soda and bottled water.
The budget was originally cut by more than $4 million in the 2009-2010 legislative session.
Now, the district is working to reduce the budget for the 2011-2012 school year. Gov. Chris Gregoire recently released her 2011-2013 budget, which cuts $4.6 billion out of the state budget. Working with a spring deadline in mind, the state Legislature will use the governor’s budget as a starting point to create their own budget for the same period.
Renton Schools Superintendent Dr. Mary Alice Heuschel and cabinet members are working to review the district budget to find cuts for next year’s budgets and will seek public input at the community meetings.
Some of the governor’s 2011-2013 proposed cuts in kindergarten through 12th grade education include the following:
- Eliminate K-4 class-size reduction funds
- Suspend Initiative 728, which provides money to reduce class sizes
- Suspend Initiative 732, which provides cost-of-living increases for teachers
- Suspend planned increases in all-day kindergarten
- Suspend annual bonuses for National Board certified teachers
- Suspend annual step increases for teachers
- Eliminate gifted-student program
Community budget meetings
WHAT: The Renton School District seeks input from the community on where additional cuts to this year’s school budget should come from and budget priorities for next year.
WHEN:
- 6:30 p.m.- 8 p.m., Jan. 24, Renton High School, 400 Second St.
- 6:30 p.m.- 8 p.m., Jan. 25, Lindbergh High School, 16426 128th Ave. S.E.
- 6:30 p.m.- 8 p.m., Jan. 27, Hazen High School, 1101 Hoquiam Ave. N.E.
FOR MORE INFO: www.rentonschools.us
