School chief touts plan to balance education budget

SEATTLE — Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn said Tuesday the Legislature can find some of the money it needs to answer the Washington Supreme Court’s decision about education funding by transferring local levy dollars into the state general fund.

Dorn made the suggestion on Tuesday at a news conference on his ideas for the state education budget.

He called on the Legislature to add $2.2 billion in new dollars to state education spending, well above the budget plans proposed so far from the state Senate and House, which proposed between $1.3 billion and $1.4 billion in new education spending.

When asked why he waited until the last two weeks of the legislative session to make his proposal, Dorn said, “I just got the feeling I think we’re going to be here longer than the next two weeks. I think we’ve got a lot of time to talk about this and to do this and to get it right.”

Like the legislative proposals, his plan includes money for all-day kindergarten, smaller classes and more money for teacher salaries and classroom support. He also wants to reform the state levy system — something lawmakers also are working on. He also proposed reforms for the state education compensation plan, including regional bargaining for teacher salaries.

The Supreme Court has said the state’s reliance on local levy dollars to pay for basic education is unconstitutional because levies are not a stable, sustainable source of money for education and aren’t uniform across the state.

The Washington Education Association has estimated that districts across the state spent $1.6 billion in levy dollars during the 2013-14 school year on the salaries of teachers and other school employees.

Dorn said he would offer more details on paying for his plan later this week, but he took a lot of time during his news conference to talk about local levies.

Lawmakers expect to announce their own plans later this week for what to do about local levies.

Dorn also recommended partially funding class-size reductions in all grades — not just kindergarten through third grade as lawmakers would do — but giving school districts until 2021 to complete the class-size reductions voters approved in November.

Dorn has said the Legislature isn’t doing enough to make sure the state fully pays for basic education by the 2018 deadline set by the Washington Supreme Court.

“They’re in contempt of court. They have to do something that gets them off the hook. I think it’s got to be bigger than what’s out there today to get them off the hook,” Dorn said.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.