Priorities weighed for North Thurston

Some parents have clear priorities on what programs should be protected as North Thurston Public Schools braces for $3.5 million to $17.5 million in cuts next year.

"My No. 1 priority is for my kids to be able to graduate from high school and graduate from college," said Debby Mast, who has a seventh-grader and an 11th-grader in the district.

Mast attended a meeting at Nisqually Middle School on Tuesday with about 25 parents, teachers and staff members, the first of four this week to help the district craft a budget for the 2008-09 school year.

Superintendent Jim Koval will present to the board of directors Tuesday two budget scenarios that consider a renewal maintenance and operations levy on the May 20 ballot.

• If voters approve the levy, the district will have to cut about $3.5 million because costs exceed revenue from the state and other funding sources.

• If the levy fails, the district faces $17.5 million in cuts.

That scenario would be "catastrophic," Koval told attendees. "It will impact kids, employees, this community pretty significantly," he said.

$112 million budget

The levy pays for about 16 percent of the district's $112 million budget. It pays for salaries of about 225 teachers and staff members that aren't funded by the state, as well as many student programs including arts, athletics and special education, district officials have said.

Attendees of this week's meetings will be asked to prioritize a list of 15 program areas, such as high school electives, teacher training, special education and elementary band and orchestra.

The priorities will help the district decide where to trim.

Several of the parents found the process difficult.

"I don't know how you can prioritize. ... It's so hard to say, do you need this or that," said Sandi Garrington, who has two children who attend Meadows Elementary School.

Ellinor Ford, who has one child in the district, said before the meeting that though she supports education, she isn't clear on how the district spends money.

"I watch the money go out, but I'm not seeing any advantages to the children. They're going to have to really convince me," she said.

After the meeting, she said that she thought the district exaggerated the implications of a levy failure.

"There are cuts that can be made without taking away everything," she said. "I don't like for people to tell me, 'Oh, the end of the world is coming.' "

Her vote May 20 will depend on the two budget scenarios the district presents Tuesday, she said.

John Pirie, art specialist at Lydia Hawk Elementary School, said voters need to understand the economic implications of a levy failure — it could decrease property values and discourage businesses from locating in Lacey.

Mast said her priorities included protecting honors and advanced placement classes, language classes and other courses that help prepare students for college.

Elective programs also are important because both of her children play several sports, she said.

She said if the levy fails, she'll consider moving her daughter to another district.

"If she's going to lose everything, no electives, no sports — that's something we'll have to consider," she said.

Diane Huber covers education for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-357-0204 or dhuber@theolympian.com.