In an op-ed in The Seattle Times, Highline Superintendent Ivan Duran and Clover Park Superintendent Ron Banner urge lawmakers to address Washington’s K-12 education funding crisis.
The superintendents highlight severe budget shortfalls forcing program cuts, staff layoffs, and strained resources, jeopardizing the education of over one million students. They call for fully funding special education, adjusting operating cost allocations to reflect inflation, and modernizing the state’s transportation funding formula.
Without action, they warn of overcrowded classrooms, essential program cuts, and reduced special education services. Read the full op-ed.
In Highline, we've started the budget development process for the 2025-26 school year. We eliminated $8 million from our district budget for the 2024-25 school year. Thanks to steady enrollment and previous budget reductions, we do not anticipate the need for additional reductions in the 2025-26 budget. However, we will continue to track legislative funding as we face ongoing fiscal challenges.