Advocates for elementary school counselors, special education social workers, and middle school soccer coaches made their cases June 11 before Highline Public Schools board members facing a $3.5 million budget shortfall.

Teacher Zoe Asprey related a dramatic story of a homeless second-grader who held her classroom hostage by threatening to cut himself with a knife. The elementary school's counselor diffused the situation and the boy became one of her "most beautiful students," Asprey noted.

Jeff Snow, a district psychologist testifying in support of special education social workers, declared, "Cutting any staff at all is folly."

He said there has been a dramatic increase in inappropriate behavior by students in his 22 years with the district. Any improvements in academic performance will be offset by additional disruptive behavior, according to Snow.

Superintendent John Welch responded that school districts throughout the state are facing a serious funding problem that is not going to get better soon.

Welch said the district must cut $3.5 million.

"If we don't do it, it puts this organization at risk in the future," Welch declared.

A grant for elementary counselors ended last year but the district continued to fund extra counselors through Medicaid matching funds. The district has been told those funds will also disappear.

Welch said board policy is that when a grant ends, the costs for the program must end.

"That is a sound way to do business," Welch added.

Federal legislation to restore funding is pending but district officials won't know about its fate until the end of June, he said.

However, Welch announced that he has changed his recommendation from cutting the 18 elementary counselor positions down to 11.5 positions to keeping 15.5 positions.

The superintendent also said he would work with senior staffers to see if there is another way to fund special education social workers.

Tom Beatty, who described himself as a mental health professional, observed, "The money is there. This is a rich state.

"Cutting, cutting, cutting, it's the youth that are suffering, and it's getting worse."

Judy Cullen of Cascade Middle School asked that soccer be made an official middle school sport.

She said the district's four middle schools organized unofficial soccer teams with matches on Saturdays. The students provide their own transportation.

The students cannot afford to join outside "club" teams, she added.

"I know money is an issue," Cullen noted. "But we have a diverse school and soccer is the most popular sport in the world."

Tony Wentworth from Chinook Middle School said funding for someone to supervise the soccer program at Chinook is needed.

Welch replied that it would cost $40,000 a year to add soccer as an official sport. He pledged to work with soccer coaches to see if outside partnerships are available.

Student Juan Simental asked for a music program at ACE small school on the Tyee High campus. He said the two other learning communities at Tyee have music programs.

Welch asked if the other two schools could share music or arts resources.

He noted that efficiencies may happen when small schools on a larger campus share services. However, he added shared services might seem to defeat the concept of separate small schools.