Final state budget funds school consolidation panel

Local school officials were alarmed after looking at the legislature’s finalized supplemental budget and finding $250,000 slated to create a commission that would draw up a plan for combining small schools.

“It’s very frustrating,” said Colfax Superintendent Michael Morgan. “They keep looking at this in terms of saving money, but they don’t seem to worry about the quality of education kids can get from small schools.”

Introduced by Sen. Karen Fraser, D-Olympia, the measure dedicated funding for the panel.

“Unfortunately some of our colleagues from larger areas seem to think it’s okay to put fi...