2008 Woodie Awards
Levy vote has consequences for UWT
Nick Przybyciel
Issue date: 4/20/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Students who attend the Tacoma school district will not be the only victims if the school levy fails to be approved by voters April 25.
More than $70 million is projected to be slashed from the budget if the levy fails to reach supermajority, which is 60 percent voter approval. According to TSD officials, the first area of the budget to be cut will be staffing, with 1,000 jobs in jeopardy. Former University of Washington, Tacoma education students employed by the district, or current students seeking future employment, will likely be affected by any change in staffing.
"Many teaching jobs are in jeopardy," said Kim Golding, a member of the Tacoma School Board. "Because of seniority, the youngest and brightest would be the first to go."
Officials from the TSD estimate that approximately 25 UWT graduates currently work for the district. It is a major regional employer for those in the education profession, with 5,068 total staff members.
State funding for education has dropped nearly ten percent in the past ten years, forcing school districts across Washington to supplement their operating costs with levies.
"Education reform has not been supplemented with education funding," Golding said. "While we're waiting for that to catch up, we're finding we have to meet higher demands with fewer resources."
Aside from cuts in staffing, the TSD will also be forced to shut down up to ten schools, eliminate extracurricular programs and increase class sizes if the levy fails.
"We will have strictly federal and state funded programs," Golding said. "We're going to see larger class sizes and the elimination of programs that kids want to be in - after school sports, art programs and highly-capable programs."
The levy is expected to raise $290 million over four years. Property owners would pay $3.88 per $1,000 of assessed property in 2007. The rate is projected to decrease annually to $3.53 per $1,000 by 2010.
More than $70 million is projected to be slashed from the budget if the levy fails to reach supermajority, which is 60 percent voter approval. According to TSD officials, the first area of the budget to be cut will be staffing, with 1,000 jobs in jeopardy. Former University of Washington, Tacoma education students employed by the district, or current students seeking future employment, will likely be affected by any change in staffing.
"Many teaching jobs are in jeopardy," said Kim Golding, a member of the Tacoma School Board. "Because of seniority, the youngest and brightest would be the first to go."
Officials from the TSD estimate that approximately 25 UWT graduates currently work for the district. It is a major regional employer for those in the education profession, with 5,068 total staff members.
State funding for education has dropped nearly ten percent in the past ten years, forcing school districts across Washington to supplement their operating costs with levies.
"Education reform has not been supplemented with education funding," Golding said. "While we're waiting for that to catch up, we're finding we have to meet higher demands with fewer resources."
Aside from cuts in staffing, the TSD will also be forced to shut down up to ten schools, eliminate extracurricular programs and increase class sizes if the levy fails.
"We will have strictly federal and state funded programs," Golding said. "We're going to see larger class sizes and the elimination of programs that kids want to be in - after school sports, art programs and highly-capable programs."
The levy is expected to raise $290 million over four years. Property owners would pay $3.88 per $1,000 of assessed property in 2007. The rate is projected to decrease annually to $3.53 per $1,000 by 2010.