Marysville School District

Budget Reductions FAQ

May 2009

Budget reductions in Marysville this year may be more difficult than any in the past 30 years.
The state budget went from $3 billion to $9 billion in the red in a matter of months. As a
result, we must make nearly $8 million in reductions to our $111 million budget.

Our priorities in reducing the budget include the following:

A. Spread the reductions to minimize repeated cuts in the same areas.
B. Continue to discuss budget reductions, possible layoffs, and alternatives with labor leaders.
C. Maintain a sound instructional program with the staffing, tools and training needed.
D. Create a sustainable budget that serves students well - this year - and for future years.
E. Maintain an ability to pay our bills and meet payroll.
F. Maintain to the extent possible the negotiated staffing levels.

Q. Why are you making such drastic cuts in music; it looks like you are cutting half of our
music programs?
A. The actual reductions in music will be small. At this time, it appears that only two periods of
music will be eliminated, and that at the middle level. No teachers will be RIFed.

Q. Why are you wasting money on cheerleader uniforms and golf carts?
A. Point well taken. Reductions could have been made in the current year had we become aware
earlier of the severity of the budget cuts. The athletic budget for next year is being substantially
reduced.

Q. Aren’t more students signing up for Running Start to get more electives?
A. The number of students signing up for Running Start goes up by a small amount each year.
1.3% of our students are enrolled in Running Start. Very few of those students seem to be enrolling
in Running Start for electives. Most seem to be taking required courses which will give them a
head start on their freshman year in college. Edmonds has 1.6% of their students enrolled in
Running Start, Snohomish has 1.1% enrolled, and Everett and Mukilteo have .6 and .7% enrolled.

Q. Please don’t eliminate our music teacher at 10th Street Middle School.
A. Music is not being reduced at 10th Street. 10th Street will continue to have a band program next
year. There will be no RIFs in music.

Q. Why are curriculum materials so important? Can’t we postpone the purchase of math
books to preserve jobs? It’s the people who teach our kids, clean our schools, and provide the
support services that make the difference.
A. Teachers and quality teaching are our most important resource; however teachers also need
quality materials. About 40% of our students are proficient on the State math tests, our math books
are ten years old and no longer aligned well with the new even higher State standards. We either
need to get good tools for teachers or ask teachers to find their own materials that align with the
State standards. We need to provide a sustainable, sound, well-balanced, educational program of
student learning. That means that teachers and staff that we do retain need adequate materials.

Q. Why don’t you cut teachers based on quality rather than on seniority?
The negotiated agreement between MEA and MSD requires that Reductions in Force be done
through seniority.