158 Issaquah teachers notified of possible layoffs under worst-case scenario

The Issaquah School District is sending notices to 158 of its teachers that they could be laid off under a "worst-case" state budget scenario. But the actual number of Issaquah teachers who may lose their jobs is likely much smaller than that.

The School Board took a look at the proposed state House and Senate budgets, assumed the worst in terms of cuts, then assumed that the district would receive no federal stimulus money, said spokeswoman Sara Niegowski.

Under that scenario, the district would need to cut $10.5 million, which is about 6.9 percent of its operating budget.

About $2.2 million could be saved in operational cuts, but the remainder would need to come from personnel cuts, since employees make up about 80 percent of the district's expenses.

To fill its contractual obligations with the teachers union, the district decided to warn 158 teachers that their contracts may not be renewed for the next school year.

In truth, about 62 of those teachers will probably be safe under even the most severe cutbacks because they have specific certifications, such as special-education certification. The district has 1,097 teachers.

School districts around the state are trying to figure out how state budget cuts will affect their budgets. The Lake Washington School District is projecting $7.7 million in cuts.

The Northshore School District expects $6 million to $7 million in cuts and has already notified nine employees in administration and support services that contracts won't be renewed.

The budget situation is expected to become more clear this weekend.

Lawmakers have until Sunday to set a state budget if they hope to adjourn on time.

Katherine Long: 206-464-2219 or klong@seattletimes.com