The supplemental budget adopted by the House today retroactively cuts funding for smaller class sizes in kindergarten through fourth grade—a matter of concern for Washington, whose average class sizes already rank 48th in the country.
HB 1086 modifies the state budget for the 2009-2011 budget period ending June 30. But the loss of K-4 funding means classrooms will become even more overcrowded next year, says Rich Wood, spokesperson for the Washington Education Association. Wood estimates that 1,500 teaching jobs will be eliminated next year without the K-4 funding. An additional 500 teaching jobs could be cut because of the impact of state cuts on local levy collections.
“Additional teachers are hired to bring class sizes down,” Wood said. “These cuts will have a negative impact on kids.” Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos (D-37), chair of the House Education Committee, agreed that smaller class sizes were a “proven strategy to improve student learning, especially in early grades” but stressed that the state is “dealing with a budget situation that is very grave.” “We are having to balance multiple needs,” Santos said. “We will be looking at how we can preserve K-4 funding in the 2011-2013 budget.”
The senate could vote on whether to approve the cuts as early as next week, said Senate Ways and Means Chair Senator Ed Murray (D-43). Murray warned that education funding would be cut drastically over the next two years. “The budget deficit is so great that the legislature does not have too many options,” he said.
Or … Amazon could just collect and pay sales tax for WA residents like they’re supposed to.
Problem solved.
@2 I don’t know what you’re talking about. Amazon collecs taxes from my purchases, 9.5% of my purchase from Saturday to be precise.
I guess I should say, as usual Will has no idea what he’s talking about.
@4 try reading today’s Seattle Times or Wall Street Journal.
@5 Exactly, you have no idea what you’re talking about. Since they most definitely have a presence in WA they have to, by federal law, charge sales tax to me and they definitely do charge me that tax. Now, sure they don’t WANT to charge me that tax, but they have to and they so far have consistenly done so.
The answer is that all schools should be converted to tunnels.
@7 But then they’d be, much to Will’s dismay, BILLIONARE’S SCHOOLS!
I’m waiting for the bill that cuts funding for central district administration while preserving funding at the school/classroom level. Let some admins making 115K+ look for new work and save 2-3 teachers for every overpaid administrator axed.
Given that the State Auditor has said that Seattle schools administration is larger than it should be (6% rather than the national average of 4-4 1/2%), those cuts should start there. And don’t be fooled by SPS’s “we cut 85 administration positions last year” – they cut 85 Central office, not administration positions. Some of them they renamed the positions and rehired people.
RAISE OUR DAMN TAXES ALREADY!!
Someone has to say it.
Thank god you guys just spent $40K a pop on Teach for America usurpers… I mean, teachers.
@6 There is a larger point that the state’s revenue streams are easily subverted. It’s mostly consumption (sales) tax based, as we all know. We also know that at least the western half of the state is very wired. I can’t be the only one who saves hundreds, if not thousands, in taxes per year buying larger ticket items online. (If you live in Seattle & buy from Amazon, you’re a fucking idiot. Same stuff @ same price available from dozens of other outlets w/out paying a 9.5% premium in addition to shipping.) The difference between shipping costs & sales tax generally favor buying online & paying shipping.
@13 The tax isn’t a premium, I’m simply correctly paying a tax I should have to pay any online retailer. The fact that online retailers don’t have to charge sales tax if they don’t have a presence in your state has never made sense to me.