School districts scramble to make good on pay raises

The Columbian ^ | May 11, 2008 | Howard Buck

[DakotaRed]

In the tiny Hockinson School District, the budget gap is $250,000.

For Vancouver Public Schools, the shortfall is more like $4 million, officials say. In the Evergreen district, it’s at least $1.6 million.

Across Clark County and Washington state, school districts are feeling the pinch of a large cost-of-living pay hike for teachers and other workers, approved by state legislators earlier this year.

[DakotaRed]

How ironic is it that just days ago an Op Ed appeared in the same paper outlining Washington State losing a $13.2 million grant from the National Math & Science Initiative out of Dallas Texas, over conflicts with the Washington Educators Association and Collective Bargaining laws?

While the lost grant alone cannot be blamed for a budget pinch, $13.2 million surely would have helped offset it.

Discussed here previously.

[Clintonfatigued]

We pay so much and get so little. Homeschooling doesn’t cost the taxpayers anything (Metmom, that’s your cue!)

[Clintonfatigued]

The cost of government schools continues to rise. Although, IMHO, the biggest costs are not financial.

[Popman]

approved by state legislators earlier this year.

I'm assuming that means, this year 2008. If that is the case, the state should pony up the money or loan the money to cover their state mandated pay increase.

These small communities set their budgets and tax rates way before the year 2008 begins.

[traviskicks]

Agreed.

[tbw2]

Private sector companies aren’t run by mandated raises - neither should federal and state and local employees.
This mandated raises - whether or not they work, whether or not they earn the pay - is going to bankrupt a lot of districts and towns.

[metmom]

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[johniegrad]

the state should pony up the money or loan the money

The state HAS no money. They can only confiscate it from you. Everyone needs to live within their means. That means withdrawing the increase if it can't be paid for.

[Popman]

The state HAS no money. They can only confiscate it from you. Everyone needs to live within their means. That means withdrawing the increase if it can't be paid for.

Can't disagree at all

Thanks for the slap on the back of the head.

[Clintonfatigued]

The public schools in Washington state are in a bad state. Not that they seem to be doing well in other parts of the country.

[sionnsar]

Clintonfatigued for the ping.

Say WA? Evergreen State ping

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Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.

[Jack Black]

Thanks for the ping! Crash and Burn! Vallejo first, Vancouver second? Who cares?? I hope we can’t pay. Tired of the robbery. Mandated raises. You have GOT to be kidding. The voters in this state are idiots, but it’s mostly the Seattle area that does it. (And Olympia).

[DakotaRed]

Don’t forget, thanks to the laws passed to grant the WEA more power, Washington Schools lost a $13.2 Million grant. Then days later, they cry about funds?