Local News

Teacher raises cause cutbacks in Highline schools positions

By Eric Mathison

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

State legislators' generosity in granting larger than anticipated raises to teachers has contributed to the possible elimination of 30 district positions.

"These are positions, not people," district spokeswoman Catherine Carbone Rogers cautions.

With retirements, resignations and transfers, no one may actually be laid off.

However, the district is required to notify those who could be affected by May 15.

Twenty-five positions are proposed to be eliminated among nonsupervisory certified (teaching) staff. These include eight in high schools, five in central headquarter programs and three at the Puget Sound Skills Center.

Among administrators, the district plans to eliminate a high school principal, high school assistant principal, middle school principal, middle school assistant principal and a central program supervisor.

The state funds some teacher salaries, but the district uses levy funds to pay additional teachers. When salaries are raised for state-funded teachers, the district matches the raise for the other teachers, cutting into the budget.

On April 28, Highline School Board members also heard about district plans to spend Initiative 728 funds.

The initiative was approved by state voters to give school districts funds for extra support to students.

Deputy Superintendent Carla Jackson said Highline will receive about $7.7 million. The district will use $2.7 million for literacy and math coaches and $1.1 million for summer school programs.

State-funded full-day kindergarten classes will be extended to Beverly Park, Cedarhurst, Hilltop, Mt. View and Seahurst in September, Jackson announced.

The five sites will join Madrona, Midway and White Center in the early education program.

Board members also approved 43.5 hours of waiver time to allow teachers and staff to work on learning and implementing new math ands science standards and assessments.

The time will come from a mixture of days-off and early releases for students.

Highline Education Association president Stacie Hawkins thanked the board for approving the waiver days.

The teachers' union head said, "We appreciate the increased time for preparation. It will produce better results, but we have a lot of work to do."