EVERETT — Everett’s schools Superintendent Gary Cohn has dipped into his old playbook to ready the district for difficult budget decisions ahead.
The school district leader has assembled a financial advisory council that includes local residents and school employees.
It is a budgeting strategy that worked well for Cohn when he led the Port Angeles School District before taking over in Everett in July.
The panel will examine timely spending issues, but also will get a broader view of how schools are funded. It will make recommendations on financial priorities and cost savings.
Everett is one of the state’s largest districts with 26 schools, more than 18,000 students and a $188 million annual operations budget.
The committee faces plenty of challenges ahead as the Legislature tries to tackle a $2.6 billion shortfall in the state budget. Gov. Chris Gregoire has proposed $400 million in budget cuts to education, which could lead to larger class sizes, teacher layoffs and fewer course offerings.
In November, the Everett School Board approved the formation of the district’s fiscal advisory council.
“Such a group is important in the best of times and even more so now as the state and districts across the state grapple with funding challenges and higher expectations for student achievement,” Cohn said.
The 18-member group includes four local residents and business leaders as well as two high school students. There also are two principals, union representatives and district leaders from academic, finance, human resources, special education and facilities departments.
Terry Edwards, the district’s chief academic officer, said he’s glad he will be able to have input on a finance committee that sets educational priorities.
Pam LeSesne, a retired Navy captain who narrowly lost a race for a spot on the Everett School Board in November, also was appointed to the committee. She applauded the decision to include voices from people who live in the school district.
“I jumped at the opportunity to be involved,” LeSesne said. “I believe you must get the community involved, especially when there is a problem with the finances” in the form of a state budget shortfall.
“It will be tough but I think we will be all right if we keep the kids’ interests at heart,” she said.
Cohn said the fiscal advisory council will provide long-term benefits to the district as people rotate onto the committee. As more people gain knowledge about the complexities of education financing, they will be able to share what they know with the community, Cohn said.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.
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