Loss of I-728 money means cutbacks to Sumner School District programs

The Washington State Legislature made a massive cut to a student achievement fund, slashing allocations by 72 percent and leaving students in the Sumner School District $1.04 million for the 2009-2010 school year.

Some programs previously supported by Initiative 728 money cannot be maintained, like full-time kindergarten, professional development specialists, of which there are 13, two teachers on special assignment, and professional development and extended learning support for students and teachers.

The proposed spending plan for 2009-2010 allocates funds as follows:

• Teachers on special assignment to provide coaching, classroom support, professional development and facilitate district committees receive a total of $230,000 in salary and benefits for three positions.

• Funds will continue to support ongoing professional development programs for educators, like professional learning community activities, professional certification, National Board Certification, support for adoption of new math curriculum, alignment of district curriculum to state standards, and a teacher leader academy. The total of these funds is $250,000.

• Teachers will be funded to maintain current low teacher-student ratios and further reduce class size in kindergarten through fourth-grade where rooms are available and to support smaller class sizes in Advanced Placement and the International Baccalaureates Programme. The cost is $563,000.

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