Legislators have made drastic changes to the way they financially support school districts. These changes are going to take tens of millions of dollars out of our district’s budget unless something is done. But before you call Olympia, let’s rewind and get the full story. Earlier this year, voters approved the renewal of our Educational Programs & Operations Levy and our Technology Levy. Thank you, voters! We all know that levies aren’t just for the “extras” anymore. Of course they do fund the things the state doesn’t, like athletics, but they also fund the things the state isn’t fully funding, and that includes some big ticket items. “Twenty million dollars is going towards materials, supplies and operating costs,” said Superintendent Brian Lowney. “Things like insurance and utilities and keeping the lights on and all the rest. And then $5 million is going into special education. Another portion is going to transportation.” That’s a big change that is not unique to Bethel. Levies originally started as a way for communities to decide if they want to fund the extras, like sports and music. But more and more, communities are now voting if they want to keep the lights on in classrooms or not. In the past, when communities passed levies, property-poor school districts like Bethel would also get some additional state money, called Local Effort Assistance (LEA). When our community passed the levies in February, that LEA money was incorporated into our budget. And that’s when the legislature changed the rules. “What that means for us is that we are anticipating less revenue in future years,” said Chief Financial Officer Christine Donnelly. “It's to the tune of $10 million in 2027-28.” Yes, you read that correctly. Bethel will see $10 million less money than the state promised starting in 2027, unless something is done. And this change is impacting other districts too … just not the rich ones. “Seattle can raise a billion dollars through levies because they're property-rich,” said Superintendent Lowney. “LEA is intended to make things equitable for our students. It shouldn’t matter what zip code a kid lives in whether they get a good education or not.” You can assume that Bethel and other property-poor districts across the state will be talking with their legislators about this, but hearing from people like you can make a huge difference. So reach out to the folks that represent you in Olympia and let them know your thoughts. You can find out who your representatives are and get their contact information at https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder A note on federal funding As one of the biggest employers in Pierce County, Bethel employs over 3,000 staff to support 21,000 students across 31 schools. It’s a lot of work and requires a lot of money. With funding issues like LEA, maintaining a balanced budget is becoming more and more difficult. That’s why it’s important to understand the district’s entire budget, which includes money coming from the federal government. There have been rumors and rumblings over the years about ongoing federal support for education, and without getting into the politics, that federal support is less than ten percent of our district's budget. But it does impact every student in the district. “I mean, no one is going to sneeze at $40 million,” said Superintendent Brian Lowney. “Of that $40 million, about half of our federal money is for Child Nutrition.” Along with money from the state, those federal dollars are the reason we have free meals for all students. The other half of our federal money is earmarked for special education, and Title programs – all of which support our most at risk students. The education and well-being of our students is our number one priority here in Bethel. If you’d like to reach out to your representatives in Washington D.C., you can find their contact information here: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member
