The Highline School Board approved Aug. 4 a $183 million general operating budget for the 2010-2011 school year.
Board president Bernie Dorsey noted the district has faced an $8 million budget shortfall last year and a total budget shortfall over the past two years of over $11 million.
"I am getting fatigued with the years of cuts and cuts," Dorsey declared. "We are to the marrow."
He suggested board members become more vocal in calling for school financing reform.
"We should lead in moving the public from seeing (educating) children as an obligation to a priority,' Dorsey added.
He praised finance director Susan Smith Leland for her work on the budget and noted that no members of the public had asked to testify at the second of two public hearings on the budget.
He attributed that to the process the district used to gather public comment. Besides hearing public comments during previous board meetings, the district sponsored public forum in schools and sought written comments.
Superintendent John Welch also congratulated Leland on her handling of the last few budgets "that have been very challenging."
Leland predicted future cuts in school budgets.
"It is not a rosy picture, but it will not be unrosy forever," Leland said.
Leland noted the board has approved $3.4 million in revenue and program reductions for the 2010-2011 school year.
The board also passed budgets for other district funds. These included $600,000 for transportation vehicle; capital projects, $83.5 million; $23.8 million, debt service; and $2.4 million, associated student body.
Welch also announced principal changes as the district prepares to resume classes Sept. 8.
Damon Hunter, who was hired just last month as Highline High assistant principal, has been promoted to Highline High interim principal.
Hunter replaced Jackie Lewis, who was demoted to secondary teacher. Lewis also served as district athletic director. The demotion followed an investigation of the district's athletic program in the wake of charges that an interim stadium manager performed physicals on students without proper medical supervision.
Lewis, 60, has filed a $500,000 claim against the district, charging age, sex and racial discrimination.
Hunter and Lewis are African American.
Highline's previous principal, Michael Fosberg will become principal at Marvista Elementary in Normandy Park.
Rebecca Kim is moving from Marvista to Midway Elementary in Des Moines. Ben Gauyan has accepted a position as elementary education director in the Tacoma School District.
Karin Jones is switching from Des Moines Elementary to McMicken Heights Elementary in SeaTac. Steve Grubb will return to his position as executive director of K-12 Schools in the Tyee and Mount Rainier service areas.
Jennifer Reinig is coming from the Seattle School District to become Des Moines principal.
