Funding for four high school police officers was included in a $161.3 million general operating budget approved Aug. 9 by Highline School Board members.

Superintendent John Welch earlier had proposed removing funding for the school resource officers (SROs) at Highline, Evergreen and Tyee high schools to save $180,000.

But after the Burien City Council voted on July 31 to increase its share for the officer at Highline High from $20,000 to $50,000, Welch put the SROs back in the budget.

Mt. Rainier will keep its SRO as part of an agreement with Des Moines to allow students to attend Olympic Middle School while the high school is being rebuilt.

The new general budget does eliminate the district's driver education classes and reduces the teen parent program subsidy by $20,000.

At the beginning of this budget process, board members were told if the district maintained last year's staffing and program levels and current cost projections were realized, total expenses would exceed revenues by $3.1.

Budget director Jeri Carlson told board members on Aug. 9 the projected $3.1 million shortfall had been erased by reducing expenditures by $2.165 million and increasing revenues by $935,000.

The general operating budget for the 2005-2006 school year was $147.9 million.

Prior to the unanimous vote on the new budget, board member Susan Goding charged the district's contract with the Highline Education Association, its teacher's union, hampers flexibility needed for efficiency and innovation.

Board vice president Matt Pina noted, "This was a particularly difficult budget" because the Legislature granted raises to most teachers, but not those paid through the district's special levy.

The district felt obligated to pass on the raise to all teachers and support staff, he said.

"This is the best budget we could come up with," Pina added.

Board president Phyllis Byers was absent.

Board members also declared an emergency situation exists at the Boulevard Park site destroyed by a fire on July 2 and authorized staff to spend funds for emergency services and repairs.

The district has received a $750,000 advance insurance check and is now tearing down the buildings.

A science resources staff that assembled elementary science kits has been temporarily relocated to the Sunnydale site and will be housed at the Maywood site.