While at earlier meetings, Highline Public Schools board members heard anguished pleas about proposed cuts, board members on Aug. 13 quietly adopted a $183 million general operating budget for the coming school year.

There were no public or board comments on the budget before it was passed by consent.

At previous meetings, teachers and others testified against cutting elementary counselors and special education social workers.

Marvista Elementary kindergarten teacher Jamie Lemley called counselors "the heart and soul of our elementary, middle and high schools."

Teacher Zoe Asprey recalled a dramatic story of a homeless second-grader who held her classroom hostage by threatening to cut himself with a knife.

The school's counselor diffused the situation and the boy became one of her "most beautiful students," according to Asprey.

District psychologist Jeff Snow testified social workers are especially needed because of the dramatic increase in inappropriate behavior by students.

Any student improvements in academic performance would be offset by additional disruptive behavior without social workers, Snow added.

In the final budget, 15.5 out of the district's previous 18 elementary counselor positions were retained. Superintendent John Welch originally proposed cutting 6.5 positions.

Spokeswoman Catherine Carbone Rogers said the district decided to keep using Medicaid matching reimbursement funds to pay counselors.

A federal grant for counselors was not renewed.

Special education social workers were reduced by 1.8 positions but two social workers were reassigned to similar work, according to Rogers.

The district faced a $3.5 million shortfall in its budget because of increased prices for salaries, fuel, food and insurance.

Ironically, higher than expected raises to teachers granted by the legislature put the district in a financial bind.

The state funds some teacher salaries, but the district uses levy funds to pay additional teachers. When salaries are raised for state-funded teachers, the district matches the raise for other teachers, cutting into revenue.

Welch has told board members to expect future budget squeezes.

Highline Education Association president Stacie Hawkins has blamed the state for not fully funding education.

Other budgets approved by the board include transportation vehicle fund, $1.6 million; capital projects fund, $87 million; debit service fund, $27 million and associated student body program fund, $2 million.

In other business, Welch announced the board will hold a 90-minute executive session immediately following the Aug. 27 board meeting to discuss the proposed sale or easement of property to the developers of the controversial Emerald Pointe condominium project.

The developers want to use a strip of land at the old Burien Heights site for a road to the planned condo project overlooking Seahurst Park.

Neighboring residents have opposed the plan and have lobbied the board not to approve a sale or lease.

The executive session is not open to the public.