Schools in Snohomish County will get an $8 million boost in the fall to lower class sizes, train teachers and hold before- and after-school programs.
The extra cash comes from a jump in Initiative 728 money, a revenue stream Washington’s voters overwhelmingly approved in 2000 to raise student achievement.
Next year, the amount schools receive will increase from $300 to $375 per student. For schools across Snohomish County, that could be an increase from $30 million to $38 million.
Statewide, the funding translates into roughly $360 million, about $70 million more than this year. The lion’s share of I-728 funding comes from property taxes.
School districts have been outlining how they plan to spend the extra cash at school board meetings in recent weeks.
I-728 limits how the money can be spent: reducing class sizes, extending the school day or school year, teacher training, preschool and building improvements that promote smaller classes.
Districts spend it differently.
“The local control and flexibility is important,” said Lisa MacFarlane, who was part of the League of Education Voters that campaigned for I-728.
The I-728 money has become a lifeline for the Darrington School District, for example, which uses it to keep teachers in the classroom as it absorbs deep federal budget cuts and enrollment losses.
Marysville will receive $4.1 million in I-728 money next year. With 117 portable classrooms, it can’t use it as much to reduce class sizes as other school districts because it doesn’t have the space.
Instead, the district invests more in preschool and full-day kindergarten with a minimum of two kindergarten classes at each elementary school. I-728 also helps pay for teacher training and reading and math teaching specialists.
Everett will see its I-728 money increase from $5.1 million to a projected $6.4 million.
“This I-728 grant is vital to school districts,” said Terry Edwards, Everett School District’s executive director of curriculum and assessment. “It’s really turned into a mainstay for our budget.”
While the dollar signs appear big, indirect costs and increases in salaries and benefits quickly shave a lot off the top, he added.
When those costs are factored in, the district’s $1.3 million increase works out to roughly $800,000, “which isn’t anything to sneeze at,” Edwards said.
Everett will put the bulk of its extra money toward teacher positions that keep class sizes low, its biggest I-728 expense. It also will focus this year on remedial help at secondary schools to help students pass the WASL, including eight new math and reading support positions.
“It will make a difference,” Edwards said.
As eager as districts are to invest I-728 money in improving learning, there is always a fear the money willbe cut back when the Legislature faces a budget pinch, said Dan Steele, a lobbyist for the Washington State School Directors Association.
“Folks are pleased. They are happy. But they can’t help wondering if it will be there forever,” he said.
Herald reporter Melissa Slager contributed to this story.
Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or stevick@heraldnet.com.
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