Too Many Portables Cited as Reason for State’s Record-Setting School Funding

SPOKANE, Wash.-Washington’s Democratic legislators say their new budget sets a state record for the most money ever allocated toward school construction – $613 million. The increased budget was based on the belief held by some members of the state House of Representatives, including Rep. Hans Dunshee, chairman of the House Budget Committee, that Washington has too many portable classrooms and crumbling schools.

According to the office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Washington has 4,000 portable classrooms. It also reported that more than half the state’s schools are 30 years old.

The state’s proposed construction budget totals $3 billion; the $613 allocated for K-12 schools is up $211 million from the current budget, more even than the amounts proposed by the Senate or by the governor. State community colleges and four-year universities would receive $917 million.