Budget Questions 2023

As of this writing (April 24, 2023), the school board has a Resolution to reduce the secondary programs by 3.0 FTE (Full Time Equivalent), the elementary by 1.0 FTE, and a .2 Health Specialist. We are following contract language and legal counsel to determine who is impacted by this Reduction in Force. We are beginning to look into the process for possible reductions in our classified group.

We are required to serve all Highly Capable students, so a program in the elementary (and in all schools) has to be present. What that program looks like may change, however.

La Conner schools receive Impact Aid funds from the federal government to compensate for the tribal trust land. The formula for determining how much Impact Aid we receive each year is complex, but we can get a really rough estimate of the amount by dividing the total amount of Impact Aid allocated by US Congress by the number of students living on these non-taxable lands. Because the amount Congress allocates each year and the number of students varies each year, the amount of Impact Aid received also varies each year. However, since it is distributed on a per-student basis, a decline in students results in a decline in Impact Aid received. La Conner has been receiving Impact Aid for many years - at least 20. 

During COVID, the state made huge efforts to avoid cutting school funding. For example, for the year of the pandemic, the district continued to fund bussing, although we had almost zero riders. This was called a "hold harmless" agreement since districts were not harmed by the decrease in ridership. "Hold Harmless" agreements ended with the pandemic funding.  

No teachers have been fired in this current situation. All positions are Reductions in Force. (Please see FAQ about RIF and being fired) None of these cuts are due to performance issues. The reductions are due only to the need to cut spending at this time. 

A RIF is a process where a school district reduces the number of its employees, usually due to financial constraints or changes in student enrollment.

Reason for termination:
RIF (Reduction in Force): An employee is RIFed when their position is eliminated due to reasons unrelated to their individual performance or behavior, such as budget constraints, declining enrollment, organizational restructuring, or changes in educational programming.

Firing: An employee is fired when they are dismissed from their position for reasons such as poor job performance, misconduct, policy violations, or insubordination. The termination is typically a direct result of the employee's actions or behavior.

Personal performance:
RIF: An employee's performance or conduct is not the primary reason for their dismissal in a RIF. The termination is based on broader organizational needs and circumstances.

Firing: When an employee is fired, it is often due to their job performance or conduct. Their dismissal is generally tied to their individual actions or failures to meet expectations.

Rehire potential:
RIF: Employees who are RIFed may have a better chance of being rehired within the district if positions become available in the future, as their termination was not based on personal performance or conduct.

Firing: Employees who are fired may have a more challenging time getting rehired within the same organization due to the negative reasons associated with their termination.

The impact of a RIF on a child's education can vary depending on the specific staff reductions and the district's plan to address the changes. The district may need to increase class sizes, reassign teachers, or adjust course offerings. The district's goal is to minimize any negative effects on the quality of education.

At this time, there is no plan to cut athletics. The results from the LCSD Community Voice Outreach Engagement Meetings that were held with staff, students, and community members during the winter of 2022, resulted in the prioritization of La Conner School District programs and placed athletics and extra-curricular programs at the top of the list.

We want to address some of the concerns about elective course offerings for the next school year. At this time, there is no plan to cut music programs. Schools are provided with a staffing allocation based on enrollment. Elective courses offered are driven by student choice. If there are not enough students signed up for a particular course, the school has to determine if courses can be combined. If not, the school cannot offer the elective at the expense of larger class sizes in other courses. 

We recognize the challenges our district faces as we prepare for the 2023-24 school year budget. This is a difficult time for public education as we deal with several factors contributing to our budget deficit, which include: 

• Declining student enrollment while maintaining current staffing levels

• Enrollment “hold harmless” funds from the state end

• ESSER Federal funding from the pandemic ending

• increased materials, supplies, and personnel costs

• Salary adjustments based on inflation and contractual commitments, which are not fully funded by the state

The district is targeted to have a 10 percent fund balance in its budget. Districts around the region and the state are facing similar reductions.

RIFs occur when a school district faces budget constraints, declining enrollment, changes in educational programming, or other organizational changes that necessitate a reduction in staff. In our case, this RIF is the result of a reduction in revenues, including the loss of ESSER funds.

A RIF is usually implemented due to budget constraints, declining enrollment, changes in educational programming, or other organizational changes that necessitate a reduction in staff.

RIF decisions are typically made by the school board and district administration, based on factors such as seniority, certification, performance evaluations, and other criteria defined by the district's RIF policy and according to the agreement with the relevant union and the collective bargaining agreement.

Teachers and staff are usually selected for a RIF based on factors such as seniority, certification, performance evaluations, and other criteria defined by the district's RIF policy or collective bargaining agreement.

Seniority is often a significant factor in RIF decisions, but it may not be the only one. Other factors, such as teacher certifications, performance evaluations, and unique skills, can also play a role.

The district is working proactively to balance its budget and prepare for necessary reductions. The district currently faces at least a $1.5 million shortfall for future budget years, depending on the decisions made during the current legislative session. We will continue proactively engaging with staff, families, and the community to gather input on future reductions. We have been using some funds from our reserve, or fund balance, which is not a sustainable path. 

Currently, we have 8 teachers impacted by recent budget reductions, which only equals 4.18 FTEs, not 8 FTE positions. (a full FTE, or full-time equivalent, is a full-time position. Several of our staff members had less than a full FTE.)

Community members can support the district and teachers by staying informed, participating in discussions, and advocating for resources and funding. Additionally, volunteering, joining parent-teacher organizations, and offering assistance in various capacities can help support the school community. 

Additionally, community members can check on the veracity of news they may receive. Please don’t hesitate to contact the district to verify something you hear.

We don’t have any staff endorsed to teach/ fill the three open positions: a part-time position in music and in math, and a full-time secondary counselor position. These positions need to be filled by staff with the proper endorsements.

ESSER funds provided by the federal government enabled the district to provide enriched staffing and student support services. This funding was temporary, meaning the district must now go back to pre-pandemic staff levels based on student enrollment. Student enrollment has stabilized somewhat in our community, but it is still lower than it was during the 2019-2020 school year. 

The State of Washington is required to supply school districts with state funding for “basic education.” Funding for basic education is based on a “prototypical school model” which represents the Legislature’s allocation of resources required to provide the program of basic education. 

Levies and bonds (and grants) supplement the allocations from the state, which are based on the prototypical school model. 

In 2018, when the Washington State Legislature provided resources in response to the McCleary lawsuit related to school funding, a number of steps were taken to equalize the resources available to schools across the state, so that one area would not have as many financial advantages over others in a less economically robust area.

In the process of making those changes, the Legislature was aware that there would be Districts that would have a difficult time attracting a quality workforce without paying regionally competitive wages, so they created “regionalization” which provided added resources to Districts situated in higher cost of living areas. 

Currently, the district projects a $1.5 million deficit. However, this amount could change depending on the outcome of the Legislative Session scheduled to close by the end of April.

The Prototypical School Funding Model was originally for staffing allocations, created in 2011, and was funded at artificially low ratios based on historical staffing levels that had been in place since the late 1980s to ensure the conversion was cost-neutral. Since then, the need for student support in local school districts has grown exponentially, yet the funding ratios for most staff positions have remained the same since the Model was first implemented. School districts, including La Conner School District, urge the Legislature to begin fulfilling its commitment by phasing in updated ratios to achieve more realistic state-funded staffing levels in all schools, starting first with investments to meet students’ mental health, social health, emotional health, behavioral health, and safety needs. 

Outside of state funding, schools may receive money for facilities, programs, and services from grants and voter-approved bonds and levies. Because the funding provided by the state does not cover the actual costs to operate a school district, districts utilize bonds, capital levies, and EPO levies to bridge the gap.

As of this writing (April 21, 2023), we have notified all our certificated staff about reductions and possible transfers. In the coming weeks, we will be communicating reductions in our classified staff; we are working cooperatively with their union leadership to determine a path forward and the impact on our classified staff.  We understand the importance of continuity and stability in our school community and are committed to supporting our students and families during this challenging time.

We are not replacing the transportation supervisor, director of special services, and athletic director. The responsibilities of these positions will be absorbed by the current administration.

The district's priority is to maintain the quality of education despite staff reductions. This might involve reallocating resources, prioritizing essential programs and services, and closely monitoring student performance to identify any areas that may need additional support.

There were several opportunities for the community to provide input and learn more about the district’s budget. 

• Candid Conversation with the Cabinet
• 11/15/2022 @ 2:30 PM - Shelter Bay Community Clubhouse
• 1/19/2023 @ 7:00 AM, Beaver Tales Coffee LLC
• 2/21/2023@ 4:30 PM, Stompin Grounds
• 3/20/2022 @ 2:00 PM, La Conner Waterfront Café
• 4/11/2023@ 6:00 PM, Swinomish Education Tents
• 5/15/2023 @ 2:00 PM, TBA
• 6/15/2023 @ Noon or 6:00 PM, Swinomish Community Facility TBD
• Budget Town Halls - LCSD Community Voice Outreach Engagement. The Budget Town Halls are open to anyone and will include a presentation and audience Q&A. 
• 1/26/2023 @ 6:30, Swinomish Youth Center
• 2/8/2023 @ 5:30, La Conner Maple Hall

• Building our School Community Family and Community Engagement Night January 25, 2023, @ 5:30

• District staff meetings: January 11, 2023
• Additional materials about the budget can be found on our website:   https://www.lcsd.wednet.edu/Page/1364

A Citizen’s Guide to Washington State Finance was prepared by staff of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee with the assistance of the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program (LEAP) Committee.

School districts may have a recall or reemployment process for employees who have been RIFed. This process, as well as eligibility criteria and the order of recall, may be outlined in a collective bargaining agreement or district policies.

The district may implement various support measures to help students and staff during the transition, facilitating communication between parents and teachers, and offering professional development for staff. 

Also, the district has an employee support program in place that all staff can access, whether they’ve been subject to a RIF or not. 

The Braves’ Club, as well as other programs, are all under consideration for reducing our financial crisis.

ckahns@lc.k12.wa.us