WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Haigh saves vital funding for small high schools in House budget

OLYMPIA – Earlier this week, it seemed a done-deal; high schools with less than 300 students would have their budget cuts to a point that many of them would be unable to provide students the credits needed to meet state graduation requirements.

Schools with these smaller student numbers are ineligible, under the basic education funding formula, for the funding level needed to provide a full high school program. Currently, these high schools receive additional state money that makes sure they can hire up to nine teachers, thus offering students the variety of learning areas they need to graduate.

The Governor’s budget proposed reducing this funding to up to eight teachers, and the House proposed budget cut it further – to an average of 7. 9 staff per school.

Rep. Kathy Haigh, chair of the House Education Appropriations and Oversight committee, would not accept this proposal without a closer look at the impact on small high schools.

“Cutting the funding would be irresponsible”, said Haigh, who is also a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.  “Without this enhanced funding, many districts would be unable to remain viable and would likely have to be consolidated into a neighboring district.  This is not acceptable.  Over ninety small school districts around the state would be affected, and in some cases the next closest district can be over an hour away. This could result in students being on a bus for more than two hours a day.”

“This is about educating all children no matter where they live,” Haigh pointed out.    “One of the best things about Washington State is the diversity reflected in our cities and our rural communities, but that diversity presents challenges when trying to meet the needs of all students. We must make sure all of our children have an opportunity to a get a good education, no matter what their address is.”

Her arguments changed the minds of her fellow Democrats on the committee, and the budget approved today restores the full-funding of small high-schools.

“Kathy was very passionate in her defense of small, rural schools,” said Rep. Pat Sullivan (D – Covington), the Majority Leader of the House and another member of the Ways and Means committee.  “She pretty much single-handedly saved this funding.”

Haigh expects the funding to remain in the final budget that will be sent to the Governor next month.  “A good number of Washington legislators have these small schools in their districts, too, and know how important they are to our communities,” she said.