The Issaquah School District will face financial hardships for the foreseeable future if the legislative picture does not change during the next session.

The school board recently met with state Representatives Ross Hunter and Marcie Maxwell, as well as Senator Fred Jarrett, to discuss the impact on the district following the legislative session, which ended in April.

The Issaquah School District is expected to lose approximately $7.5 million in state revenue, a 7.9 percent decrease, according to Jake Kuper, the district’s chief of finance and operations. The largest reduction comes from a $5.1 million decrease in I-728 funds, an initiative which helps lower class sizes.

Connie Fletcher, a school board member, said with the newest unfunded mandates, which schools must pay for without state assistance, by the next biennium the district will take a “big hit”.

“By 2016 it’s going to be a big impact on the district,” Fletcher said

In the short term class sizes kindergarten through high school were increased by one student, as well as a reduction of 40 certificated staff and 25 classified staff. Long term, increases in employer retirement contributions and COLA, currently unfunded by the state, could mean the district would have to pay upwards of $4.4 million if there is a 5 percent increase in both. According to Kuper the Office of the State Actuary has said employer retirement contributions will be increased by nearly 10 percent in 2014.

Fletcher said both the board and legislators were very concerned about House Bill 1776. The bill, which did not pass the recent session, would raise the levy lid for districts, giving school districts the ability to collect more local money per levy.

“Ours and their preference is that this gets passed as soon as possible. If it doesn’t we risk losing millions of dollars,” said Fletcher. The district stands to lose upward of $1.5 million should the levy bill not be passed during the next session.

Another area the board discussed with the legislators was the panels which were created by the education reform bill. Beginning in this winter panels will be created to study different areas of the education system in Washington. Fletcher said the Issaquah board stressed that they would like to see the panels look at levies, specifically the fairness and equity of them, as well as making sure that money from levies goes toward enrichment for students and not basic education costs. She said the board suggested the panels look into how other states have dealt with levy lids. Another concern was that if panels are going to be in place this winter that guidelines for their creation need to be done soon.

“There is no time to waste on that,” said Fletcher.

Sara Niegowski, the director of communications for the district, said in May, prior to the final state budget being released, the district prepared for the worst case scenario, sending out 158 RIF notices to teachers. Due to teacher contracting regulations, teachers must be notified before a specific date whether or not they will be contracted the following year. Those notices can be rescinded later as budgets and final numbers become more clear.

Niegowski said once the final numbers came in and by increasing each class by one student the district will be able to keep most of the teachers who received notices earlier in the spring. Overall, the district will lose approximately 40 teachers district wide, but Niegowski said that number is close to the district’s annual attrition rate.

“We should get the vast majority back,” she said of teachers.

For more information on the education reform bill or other recent legislative work visit www.leg.wa.gov.