Class size ballot initiative would have local impact

If voters approve Initiative 1351, Pullman School District might have to add another elementary school.

Whitman County Commissioner and Pullman School Board member Dean Kinzer said if this initiative is approved, Pullman would have to add at least one more elementary school to provide more classrooms.

Pullman voters just approved a bond to replace a school building.

According to the Washington State Voters’ Pamphlet, if approved, the measure would direct the Legislature to allocate funds to reduce class sizes and increase staffing support for students in all K-12 grades, with additional class size reductions and staffing increases in high poverty schools.

Colfax School District Superintendent Michael Morgan said if the initiative is approved, it might affect some of the grade levels.

“We might have to look at not accepting funding for it,” he said.

Morgan said one to two classes are on the borderline and some staff members might be displaced in order to get an extra classroom.

At the high school level, Morgan said another lab might have to be added.

“Its not practical for us because of our size,” he explained.

Besides, he noted, the initiative isn’t funded.

“There is no one in the education arena that wouldn’t support smaller class sizes, but the state needs to focus on what they have right now,” Morgan said.

He noted research shows classes under 20 don’t make as big an impact any more.

“If it passed, it would send a clear message to the Legislature that they’re not doing enough for education.”

“I would like to see it pass as long as people realize it can’t be funded now,” he said.

State revenues will not be affected, but spending would increase by about $4.7 billion through 2019 as a result of funding districts for class sizes, staffing levels and levy equalization payments, according to the ballot summary.

Funding for additional needed infrastructure also isn’t addressed, and all-day kindergarten will be a state requirement by 2018, according to the ballot summary.

Arguments for the initiative say that Washington ranks 47th for class size and smaller class sizes lets teachers give more attention to students, especially important in science and math classes.

Arguments against the initiative say that the state is already required to reduce class sizes dramatically in coming years and that $4 billion will go toward administration and non-teaching positions.