Schools question state educational funding

COLFAX — Is Washington State neglecting youth educational funding?

With a 44% drop in allocations, several Whitman County schools would say yes.

The Colfax School District outlined three top priorities they are bringing before the 2025 legislature:

• Immediately address the significant underfunding of allocations for Materials, Supplies and Operating Costs (MSOC).

• Fully fund the cost of special education services.

• Fix the pupil transportation formula to ensure transparency, predictability, and adequate funding for “special passenger” categories.

The school has three other big picture fixes issues to fully fund education including:

• Making funding K-12 the paramount duty of the state.

• Putting a pause on policies and new school year requirements so district can focus on core academic needs.

• Support student mental and Behavorial health needs.

Colfax Superintendent Jerry Pugh said the Colfax School District belongs to a group of more than 45 schools called the Eastern Washington School coalition.

The coalition has hired a lobbyist and have been focusing on bringing attention to the top three priorities.

Whitman County schools have been speaking with Senator Schoesler and Representatives Joe Schmick and Mary Dye.

Insurance premium increases for schools have increased from over $150,000 in 2022-2023, $250,000 in 2023 to 2024, to now at a $300,000 in the 2024 to 2025 school year.

For 2024 through 2025 the materials, supplies and operating costs allocations from the state is at a total expenditure of $1,448,699, total allocation of $753,427, at a deficit of $695,272.

“We’re trying to get school fundings in special education, transportation, and Materials, supplies and operating costs,” said Rosalia Superintendent Brett Baum, noting those are the areas that they’ve been talking with legislature about.

Pugh said that insurance rates rising is not the only issue with Colfax experiencing a 30% increase in supplies alone, air filters and custodial supplies.

“All those things have increased with inflation,” said Pugh, “We’re promised a large total of expenditures, 1.4 million and we’re getting funded at $700,000.”

Pugh said they are asking the legislature to fully fund that by consolidating together.

A lawsuit, “McCleary versus the State of Washington,” was filed in 2007 on behalf of two families against the state for not meeting its constitutional obligation to fund a uniform system of education.

The argument was heard in front of the Washington Supreme Court on June 28, 2011, ruling that is is the paramount duty of the State to make ample provision for education of all children residing within its borders. (Washington State Constitution Article IX, Section 1).

Pugh said after the decision, in the 2019 through 2021 biennium, grades K-12 was 52% of the budget. By the 2024 session education funding had dropped to 44%.

“We’re expecting a 20% or 40% increase next year,” said Pugh. “That’s the state’s responsibility.”

“All schools are struggling with the increased costs for property and liability insurance.” said St. John Superintendent Mark Jacobson, noting with property losses around the state for the last few years and the state not being favorable to insurance companies the rates have gone up significantly.

“We also have sizeable increases in our insurance,” said Colton Superintendent Jody Moehrle.