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Eastmont School District approves 25-cent meal increase
Schools adjust bus routes, school hours and more
More teachers, higher gas prices, increased lunch costs
In school districts across the state, the burden is getting heavier and heavier. Despite their best efforts, the task of providing children with a high-quality 21st century education is becoming more and more difficult. As learning standards have risen, funding has fallen behind. Without the constitutionally required full state funding almost every school district in Washington may soon be forced to take drastic actions that will significantly impact our kids and our future. For example, shortfalls in state funding will force school districts to:
· Choose between heating their classrooms and buying new textbooks · Scale back or eliminate arts, music, social studies, and physical education programs… or even libraries · Lay off teachers, further increasing class sizes and reducing the time teachers can devote to individual students · Eliminate librarians or counselors
· Reduce classroom support personnel and maintenance staffs
· Add or increase fees for elective classes, sports and extracurricular activities… or eliminate them altogether
· Be unable, despite their best efforts, to ensure that our state’s children gain the knowledge and skills they need to live and compete in the 21st century. The next generation of Washington leaders and workers will be unable to successfully compete in the global marketplace, getting passed over for good jobs in favor of those from other states and nations that are making the investments necessary to amply provide a top-level education to their children.