State's 2 largest districts — Seattle and Tacoma — avoid teacher layoffs

School districts across Washington are trying to avoid teacher layoffs as they figure out how to deal with millions of dollars in state budget cuts.

The state's two largest school districts - Seattle and Tacoma - are both planning on few if any teacher layoffs. They say cash reserves and other cost-savings measures may be enough to balance the budget for next year.

But smaller districts, which don't have the same financial resources, are letting some of their teachers know that layoffs may be on the horizon. The state requires all teacher layoff warning notices to be sent by May 15.

The state teacher's union says layoffs or no, the impact will be the same: more crowded classrooms in Washington schools.

Washington Education Association President Mary Lindquist says the bigger districts aren't planning teacher layoffs because enough teachers retire or quit in any given year.

"It's going to be much harder to provide the kind of education our students need and they certainly deserve," said Lindquist, who has heard some districts talking about some classes being as large as 35 students next year.

She expects between 2,000 and 4,000 teachers and support staff will laid off before the next school year. Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn estimated 3,000 layoffs.

"The pain is going to be spread pretty evenly across the state," Lindquist said.

K-12 education lost between $800 million and $1 billion in state dollars for the next two-year budget cycle, but final figures won't be available until after the Legislature goes into special session to decide some remaining issues, which include a proposal concerning school levies.

Tacoma School District - the state's second largest after Seattle - is still studying the numbers, but Tacoma district spokeswoman Leanna Albrecht said teacher layoffs were not on the table for next year.

The district will cover its expected shortfall by not filling open administrative staff positions, by continuing cost-savings measures started last fall and by spending district reserves. Albrecht said the district would fill any openings for teachers or classroom aides.

Tacoma had an unexpected boost to its budget when its school population increased by 450 students this school year. The state distributes much of its school dollars based on student numbers.

Albrecht said district officials had been expecting the population to decline every year until about 2012.

Tacoma has gotten a lot of practice cutting its budget as enrollment has been declining for years, she added.

Seattle Public Schools is looking to fill an expected budget shortfall of $34.1 million, district spokesman David Tucker said.

"Our primary goal is to protect students and schools as much as possible," Tucker said.

The first $10 million of the shortfall will be covered by previously announced plans to close five schools, a $3.8 million reduction in central office staff, a new transportation plan that narrows school start times, and improvements in food service efficiency.

Although the school board has authorized the district to send out lay off notices, Tucker said they are going to try everything else to save money first.

Seattle has instituted a hiring freeze, it plans to cut support staff at high schools and middle schools, it's pulling money from reserves and it will institute a district-wide plan to increase class sizes in fourth and fifth grades by one student, Tucker said.

Once they figure out exactly how much money must be cut, Seattle may also increase class sizes in second and third grades by one student, he said.

Many districts across the state have released numbers for potential teacher layoffs:

-The Bethel School District in Pierce County has sent out 220 layoff notices to teachers and educational support staff as it tries to cut at least $10 million from its budget.

-Federal Way Public Schools, which expects a $10.1 million cut in state dollars plus another $2 million because of an enrollment drop of about 400 students, expects to lay off the equivalent of 65 full-time teachers.

-The Puyallup School District, which is still examining its budget to figure out how much needs to be cut, has said as many as 81 people could be sent layoff notices on May 15.

-Vancouver Public Schools, which expects to lose between $5.6 million and $8 million in state dollars, has told its employees it may lay off 100 or more teachers.

-As many as 62 teachers and other staff member may be laid off in the East Valley School District near Spokane, including 18 full-time special education positions. The district only has 270 teachers on staff and Superintendent John Glenewinkel told The Spokesman-Review the estimate is "the absolute worst-case scenario," and most will probably be rehired.