Waiting as the parents streamed in, Lake Washington Superintendent Dr. Chip Kimball wore a surprisingly satisfied look on his face.

“I’m glad so many came,” he said. “These cuts are so deep and so important, I didn’t feel comfortable making them without going back and asking.”

Hundreds of parents and neighbors met at area high schools as the Lake Washington School District contemplates how to cut nearly $8 million from its budget for the 2009/10 biennium. Kimball blamed the state’s overreliance on sales-tax revenues (which fell as a result of the recession) as the chief culprit in district cuts, which were also made in 2002 and 2006. This year, the district is asked to cut 3.5 percent of their overall budget – 85 percent of which is spend on personnel.

“We will budget by priority,” said Lake Washington School District Superintendent Dr. Chip Kimball.

As the chief executive officer for the district, it is Kimball’s hand that will ultimately sign into effect the program and staff cuts needed to meet the requirements of a state budget that is gaining notoriety as as one of the worst-funded in the nation.

The state of Washington is currently in the bottom tier of education spending, investing less in education that states like Louisiana, the third poorest of all 52 states.

According to Education Week, by K-12 per pupil spending it ranks 44th in the nation, and 46th in the nation on student-teacher ratios and public school financing compared to personal income. Locally, a state funding pits Lake Washington School District against poorer school districts for funding priority and they’re also blocked by state law from raising their levy lid above 24.89 percent.

But instead of burying their heads in the sand, Kimball is taking a pro-active stand by bringing the tough decisions back to the grass-roots: by sharing the decisions of what to cut and what to save.

To this end they embarked on a program of public input sessions where concerned citizens can submit on paper what they think can afford to be cut; from classrooom-size mandates and after-school athletics to school buses and keeping the Juanita High School swimming pool open.

“If we don’t do anything, I guarantee you we will be laying off teachers.”

Sitting in the audience, France Giddings said she was worried for her daughter, a ninth grader in the district, but worried more about the children behind her.

“I’ve read it will affect the little ones more,” she said. “The increasing class sizes at the grade-school level sound severe.”

Every person at the meeting was given two forms.

One of the forms listed the cuts proposed by the state and the areas they would impact, for example, “Vice Principals – Eliminates 1.5 administrative support at elementary and 1.0 at secondary. Principals would be required to assume duties, decreasing administrative support to staff – Students impacted: 2,800 – % of program: 100% – Amount: $257,000 – Points: 3.”

The more money a program cost, the higher the points allocation.

Elsewhere on the form the school district proposed alternatives to the state-proposed cuts.

The second form was for people to mark what cuts they would prefer to see made.

In this manner, the school district will take away the clear and identifiable preferences of parents, teachers and friends of the schools.

“All of those things we think are important, so it’s tough work,” Kimball said, recognizing that every individual will have their own thoughts on what is important. “But we can’t have it both ways. We can’t keep class sizes low and not cut things on the other side of the ledger.”

Juanita High constituents will go next at a meeting there April 22 at 7 p.m.

Over 1,500 parents and 1,100 teachers had already submitted their recommendations on how the district should budget from an online survey that ended in March.

Another audience member who had a stake in the evening’s events was Ed Wyruchowski. His wife is a certified swim teacher who gives lessons at the Juanita pool once a week.

“It’s helpful to see what’s proposed, what could happen,” he said. “It’s a sign of the times … saying we’re gonna need your support, because it’s gonna hurt when it’s implemented,” he said.

He said he would not vote to cut the pool.

The next steps will be an April 24 meeting where a Decision Advisory Representative Team would try to implement the public’s input in a biennial budget and hand it to Kimball for approval. After their differences – if any – are worked out, the budget will be heard a final time at a public hearing in June and then be heard by the district’s Board of Directors for a final vote.

Sammamish Reporter Editor Jake Lynch contributed to this report.