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FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013
State budget forces Communities in Schools to look elsewhere Renton School District steps in to help fill funding gap By TRACEY COMPTON tcompton@rentonreporter.com
Communities in Schools of Renton has had to adjust its approach to funding, after the state eliminated close to $100,000 from the organization’s budget. On July 1, the agency that provides resources and support to impoverished students in Renton lost about $100,000 total in state funding. That money is equivalent to two CISR family liaison positions, which
would support about 1,500 students in the district, said Sue Paro, CISR executive director. A week ago, Renton School District officials notified Paro that the district would step in to replace the more than $90,000 shortage from one grant alone, with new funding. “This is very good news and we are very appreciative of the support of the RSD (school district),” Paro said. “They have supported CISR through our 19-year history along with the City of Renton.” More than $90,000 was eliminated through the loss of the Readiness to Learn grant, which CISR has received for more
than 15 years. The changes came on June 30, when the state budget was voted on and passed. “In that budget, the legislature took RTL funding along with several other programs’ funding, rolling it together and giving it to school districts under the Learning Assistance Program,” Paro said. “Renton School District received $1.2 million of new money to LAP. The Legislature designated up to 5 percent of this money to be for community-based organizations, like CISR.” The redirection of funds has triggered an evaluation of CISR’s funding resources, but Paro said the new arrangement also
creates opportunities for better service in the district. “It’s a good solution as long as the school district partners with community groups to address the students’ needs,” she said. “We’re the No. 1 dropout prevention (resource) in the country,” said Paro. “We address the learning needs as well as the social, emotional needs of students.” Without the district stepping into its “oh-my-goodness-help” situation, she said the state cut would have devastated their programs. Renton School District officials were unavailable for comment at press time.
Council votes to defer aid-car fee indefinitely By Brian Beckley bbeckley@rentonreporter.com
Members of Johnson Music got residents of all ages up and moving Tuesday during their set at the Renton Farmer’s Market, including Alexander Andrews, 5, above. Johnson Music performed as part of the market’s Asian Day. The Farmer’s Market is open from 3 to 7 p.m. every Tuesday at the Piazza, downtown. Brian Beckley, Renton Reporter
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The City Council on Monday night voted to defer a planned Basic Life Support Transport fee indefinitely. Presently, all transports to a hospital are free, but the council last year voted to institute the fee, scheduled to begin Sept. 1, as a way to help balance the city’s budget. However, during deliberation on what council member Rich Zwicker described as a “tough swallow,” the council indicated the city should review the fee prior to the effective date to determine if it was still necessary or if the revenue target was still valid. As the city looked into the budget this summer, they estimated the line item would bring in much less money than originally anticipated. On top of that, with revenues up and expenditures down this year, the administration recommended dropping the fee, as it was no longer needed to help balance the budget. According to spokesperson Preeti Shridhar, the city expected the fee to bring in approximately $350,000, but an analysis showed it would actually come in “significantly less,” at about $100,000 to $150,000. Looking at the numbers, Shridhar said “it didn’t make sense” to not postpone the fee. Fire Chief Mark Peterson said the aid car fee was an attempt to fill revenue shortfalls and help make up part of a $5 million hole in the budget. Peterson also said Renton was following in the footsteps of several of its neighbors, such as Bellevue, Mercer Island and Maple Valley, all of which charge for an aid car. [ more Aid car page 9]