Highline schools Superintendent John Welch admits it looks odd.

But, Welch noted April 5, the generosity of the state Legislature in raising teacher salaries means the Highline district faces a $3.1 million shortfall in its projected 2006-07 budget.

State lawmakers raised salaries for educators by 3.3 percent.

However, the state does not pay wages for 164 certified instructor positions and 382 classified support personnel in Highline, who are paid through special levy funds.

The district will match the state’s salary increase for those positions.

This means if the district maintains current staffing and costs are as anticipated, the district’s revenues will be $3.1 million less than total expenses next year, according to interim budget director Barb Piguet.

Welch assured board members that there are some “revenue strategies” that could be used to shrink the projected deficit.

Board members and district staff will discuss the budget and hold public hearings during the next few months.

The district must let teachers know by May 15 if layoffs are planned. The board will adopt the 2006-07 school year budget in August.

Board members also heard from curriculum director Carla Jackson on alternative ways the Legislature devised for students to graduate from high school without passing the Washington Assessment of Student learning (WASL).

This year’s tenth-graders are the first students that must earn a certificate of achievement to graduate.

Passing the WASL had been the only way to receive the certificate, according to Jackson. However, state lawmakers are allowing student to retake the test if they do not meet standards.

Legislators also devised “kind of interesting” ways to earn the certificate, according to Jackson.

One method is to compare a the grades of a student who did not pass the WASL with the grades of students who took the same courses and met the WASL standards, she said.

A student who did not pass the math portion of the WASL could substitute his math scores on college board tests, Jackson noted.

Students could also submit work samples from academic and career/technical classes.

The guidelines and scoring for this method “have not been decided,” she added.

Appeals from students who transferred into Washington public schools as juniors or seniors, have severe health problems or unique circumstances also could be considered.

Jackson said lawmakers also set up a study of other alternative assessments to see “if we need to add another spoke around the wheel.”

She also announced that Highline will receive $6.3 million in Initiative 728 funds. That is a $1.2 million increase from last year.

I-728 was approved by voters to provide extra money for class size reduction and other steps to improve student academic achievement.

Jackson said the district is planning to spend $2.9 million for teacher professional development, $2.9 million for summer school and other support for struggling students and $480,000 for extended day kindergarten at four sites.

A public hearing on the district’s I-728 plans will be held April 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the Tyee campus in SeaTac.

Board members also endorsed Des Moines’ property tax levy lid lift proposal that will be on the ballot next month.

The levy lid lift would finance additional police services.

And board members approved the emergency replacement of Evergreen High's gymnasium floor.

Heavy rains on Feb. 4 caused the roof drain to overflow covering the gym floor with water. Physical Education classes have been using a smaller gym or going outdoors.

The $204,000 replacement will be covered through insurance minus a $5,000 deductible.

Eric Mathison can be reached at hteditor@robinsonnews.com or 206-388-1855.