Survey indicates push for pay-to-play

Stanwood-Camano School District’s reduced educational plan has been compared to a three-legged stool.

Declining enrollment, reductions in funding due to state staffing allocations and the elimination of federal stimulus dollars are threatening to undermine the district’s financial base.

The role of the district is to balance the stool enough to provide a stable foundation for students.

Last month, administrators held a series of community meetings to explain the budget dilemma and to get feedback on potential cuts in the form of a survey.

The results are in; however, the extent to which they will shape decisions made by Superintendent Jean Shumate, Ed.D., and her cabinet of administrators will remain in question until the plan is revealed.

In total, 627 people started taking the 45-question survey. Of those, 573 completed it, said Mike Olson, assistant superintendent of operations.

On average, 600 responses were tallied for each question.

The survey was formed to gauge citizen agreement on a list of recommended reductions compiled by the budget task force.

Participants in the survey were prompted to indicate if they strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree with specific cuts to staff, programs and supplies totaling $3.5 million.

Shumate said she wasn’t surprised to see strong agreement with reducing dollars spent at the administration level.

Nearly 86 percent agreed with the sub-group’s reductions.

What did surprise Shumate was the prevalence of misconceptions expressed through the open comment section of the survey.

As a way to offer responses, the district prepared a list of explanations to common themes from “administrators do not contribute to student learning” to “the district should change school boundaries to reduce costs.”

The results of one question have already generated some discussion and research, possibly changing the way athletics is funded.

Out of 590 people, 496 (roughly 76 percent) responded in favor of implementing a user fee for participation in athletic and activity programs. Thirtynine percent of the overall responses indicated strong agreement with the switch.

Currently, money for athletics and activities comes from the local levy and Associated Student Body funds.

Should the district propose a pay-for-participation fee for next school year, administration would need approval from the school board.

“Right now, the athletic director is working on what that might look like for our district,” said Shumate.

Citing concern will the legitimacy of responses to the final question of the survey, which asks participants to identify their role in the district, Shumate decided to toss out the statistics, for fear of skewed results.

Final recommendations will be discussed at a budget task force meeting on April 26 before Shumate presents the reduced educational program to the school board on May 4.

With Washington state’s budget numbers trickling into the district office, the actual target for total cuts may be less than the projected $3.2 million.

To view the district’s “School and Community Survey Results” in its entirety, visit www.stanwood. wednet.edu.

Staff Reporter Adam Stewart: 629-8066 ext. 115 or astewart@scnews.com.