Correction, July 2
Enrollment Increase Expected: Terri Patton of the South Kitsap School District was misquoted in an article that ran Friday in the Kitsap Sun. Patton did not say that a projected enrollment decline would be a factor in a continued budget cuts beyond the upcoming school year. “While it is obvious that enrollment has historically declined, I did not say I expected that trend to continue,” Patton said. “On the contrary, unlike Central Kitsap School District, we expect enrollment to grow.” Patton cites a demographics study done by the district in 2005 which shows that, based on new housing developments in South Kitsap, enrollment would grow over the next several years.

If you’re up for a little light summer reading, the South Kitsap School District budget probably isn’t the first thing you’ll reach for.

A story on the budget is on the Kitsap Sun’s Web site now.

According to Terri Patton, the district’s business office assistant superintendent, very few people take advantage of the roughly month long window of opportunity the district gives the public each year to examine and comment on the budget. A summary of the preliminary budget (from here, click on June 20 board meeting; then click on “presentations”; then click on “preliminary 2007-08 budget) can be found on the district’s Web site. The proposed budget will be available to the public July 10, and the school board will hold a public hearing Aug. 15. If they don’t see the need to make adjustments, they could adopt it that night. Otherwise they have until Aug. 30.

This year, as in years past, the district will be making some hefty cuts, about $1 million worth, according to Patton. To help make up for an estimated $1.7 million total shortfall, the district will also make a number of budget adjustments, shifting funds from one source to another and identifying ways to be more efficient, Patton said.

All of this is getting to be old hat for the district, which has made over $5 million in cuts since 2003. Patton cited flat enrollment, inadequate state funding, inflation on fixed costs and the fact that as property values go up, the district is eligible for fewer levy equalization dollars from the state. The next opportunity the board will have to tap into the larger tax base, should they choose to ask for a higher levy, will be in 2009, Patton said.

Despite the cuts, no reduction in staffing or closure of facilities is expected at this time, Patton said. In fact the district is adding a few new programs, including a partnership with the South Kitsap Port Orchard Boys & Girls Club, an early childhood parent training program, Ready! For Kindergarten, and an online component for the Explorer Academy, the district’s home school support program. The district will also need to spend $55,000 for before school supervision on the newly instituted Late Start Wednesdays, when teachers will have “collaborative time.”

Patton said she’d like to see more public scrutiny of the budget, and she’s avail able to answer questions. E-mail is probably the best way to reach her. Here’s her contact information: patton@skitsap.wednet.edu; (360) 874-7012.

Happy reading.

Wake up South Kitsap.

On second thought, hit the snooze button. The South Kitsap Education Association and South Kitsap School District have signed a contract that includes a provision for a 45-minute late start on Wednesdays. Buses will run 45 minutes late. Parents who drop their kids off at school are asked to adjust accordingly.

How can arriving late to school help students do better?

The teachers will use the time to for “collaborative” planning, a method educators say has been shown to boost student achievement. They’ll also kick in 30 minutes of their regular planning time for a total of 75 minutes a week of analyzing student data, sharing information and applying what works best to their own classrooms. No point reinventing the wheel.

A late start has been in effect at South Kitsap High for the past two years. Collaborative planning (and altered schedules) are already being tried in North Mason, Peninsula, Bremerton and Central Kitsap school districts.

We’d love to hear from our neighbors to see how much proof is in the pudding.

South Kitsap Superintendent Bev Cheney says the district will be keeping an eye on the teachers to see how the program is working. Schools will be required to submit reports to families about exactly how the time is being used, and — giving the program time to kick in — district administrators will be looking for results.

Maybe we should put SKSD on the Bremerton blog’s “on notice” board, a la Stephen Colbert, as in “we’re watching you.”

In the meantime, I know at least one junior high bound student, my son, who’ll savor an extra 45 minutes to sleep in.

Find more information on late start Wednesdays at the school district’s Web site.