Now the partisan stuff is flowing downhill onto FWay's schools


June 13, 2008 · Updated 4:51 PM 

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So, the Federal Way school district has been mandated by state law — as interpreted by the courts — to spend $3.4 million not allocated in its already tight budget. And our state is apparently walking away from the problem, in spite of a humongous current state budget surplus. 

Whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat, this $3.4 million is what’s called an unfunded mandate.

States don’t like it when our all-wise, all-powerful federal government drops unfunded mandates on them. To sanitize an ancient crude but perceptive management axiom, now the  stuff  is flowing even further downhill, onto a school district. And at the very bottom of the hill are 20 or 27 Federal Way school librarians who are about to have to make  career decisions  to help the school district save a few kilobucks. 

This ought not to be a partisan issue. If you think education’s expensive, try ignorance.

Chuck Hastings

Federal Way

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