Issaquah School District waiting for state budget deal

ISSAQUAH -- School district officials around the state are in a holding pattern. They can’t figure out their budgets for next year until a deal is reached in Olympia. The Issaquah School District discussed the issue at their meeting Wednesday night.

Students may feel like summer is just starting, but parents know the next school year will be here before they know it. That’s why they want state lawmakers to get a budget done.

“Talk is pretty cheap, it’s time for some action,” says Dave Cody. “I hope they get some things done by the end of the summer.”

Sara Niegowski of the Issaquah School District is hoping something gets done way before then

“Because of Olympia’s stretched-out timeline, our timeline gets condensed. So that’s one frustrating thing,” she says.

The district says they have enough money to take care of payroll for the next month. The Seattle School District says it can also get through the summer.

But both districts are hoping last year’s McCleary state Supreme Court decision means more funding will be coming to schools in the fall.  If that’s the case, they need to know now.

“If you want schools to do the really good things with those dollars, we need some heads up and advance planning time,” Niegowski says.

Cody, who’s a teacher, agrees. “Knowing ahead of time what you have for resources can help your organization and planning in getting things done for the students."

He says that's what it should be all about. Niegowski knows lawmakers in Olympia have been saying that the past few months, but she says it's time for them to show they care.

“We’re very happy for the education focus; we would like to get those numbers sooner rather than later,” he said.