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WSU proposes extension cuts
Washington State University faces severe budget cuts that could force the college to close its extension offices and services statewide, including Grays Harbor County.

WSU President Elson Floyd and Provost Warwick Bayly recently outlined a $62 million and $93 million biennial reduction, 12 percent and 18 percent of its budget, to meet an expected shortfall in state funding.

Most of the cuts come from WSU Extension programs, which would be cut 49 percent or 75 percent in the two scenarios.

“If either of those cuts is actually implemented, WSU Extension will no longer be in a position to serve the people of Washington, at a time when people will be in the greatest need of assistance,” said Steve Harbell, director of the Pacific and Grays Harbor Extension programs.

Unless things change:
• Grays Harbor County Extension office, Long Beach Research and Extension Center, and WSU Learning Center at Grays Harbor College will close.
• Extension 4-H, Foods and Nutrition and Master Gardener programs, along with those serving farmers, families, fishermen, shellfish growers and forest landowners in Grays Harbor County will be eliminated or severely reduced.

Floyd and Bayly responded to concerns voiced by people served by the extension programs with a letter outlining the financial challenges and emphasizing that no final decisions had been made.

“All of the work of WSU …represent(s) the essence of our university. These are times that require consideration of new ways of doing things. While doing so, please know we will do all that we can to protect these core areas,” the letter states.

The extension program can work on a reduced budget, but not with cuts as severe as those proposed, Harbell said.

“Given the current economy, WSU Extension understands the need for budget reductions, but is working to ensure cuts are more equitably distributed throughout the university,” he said.

However, if the proposed cuts are passed, the college would lose its land grant function, Harbell said.

Land grant universities were funded through the Morrill-Land Grant Acts, which gave federally controlled lands to the states to develop colleges dedicated to teaching about agriculture, home economics and other practical programs. Later laws expanded the mission to include the cooperative extension offices.

No felonies in school investigations
After reviewing two cases, one involving an Elma High School teacher and coach and the other a Beacon Elementary kindergarten teacher in Montesano, the Grays Harbor County Prosecutor’s office won’t be prosecuting either.

Both cases have been returned to their originating police departments, Prosecutor Stew Menefee said Tuesday.

The Elma case, in which the teacher was investigated for alleged improper conduct with a former female student, “was submitted to us just as a review,” Menefee said, adding that Elma Police Chief Jeff Troumbley had “indicated he didn’t have probable cause for a criminal charge.”

“I simply indicated that I agreed with his conclusion. There wasn’t sufficient evidence to support the finding of a criminal charge of sexual misconduct with a minor,” Menefee said. The police “had been investigating for some time,” the prosecutor added. “It seemed to be fairly complete.”

The teacher was on paid administrative leave from last Dec. 1 until returning to the classroom Feb. 4, after the Elma School District’s outside investigation was completed, Superintendent Howard King said in February.

The school district has been unable to release much information on its outside investigation, King said, as the teacher successfully sought a court injunction after The Daily World newsaper in Aberdeen requested his personnel records and any documents pertaining to the district’s investigation. The Vidette requested the same records.

Chief Troumbley said Tuesday that he could offer no further comment on the police investigation until the case has been reviewed by the city’s attorney, Dan Glenn.

Montesano teacher
The Montesano case was submitted to the prosecutor’s office for a charge of assault of a child, though the Montesano Police Department did not specify a degree, Menefee said. That type of assault has four degrees, three of which are felonies, he noted.

“We reviewed it … and there was no evidence of great bodily harm or substantial bodily harm or no proof of either a first-degree assault, second-degree assault or third-degree assault,” the prosecutor said.

“Absent that, we don’t have any of the necessary elements to file felony charges on assault of a child.”

Whether to file a fourth-degree assault charge, a misdemeanor, would be up to the city attorney, Menefee said. Dan Glenn also fills that position in Montesano.

The kindergarten teacher has been on paid administrative leave since Feb. 9, during the police investigation, as well as the Montesano School District’s outside investigation. The district’s investigation had not been completed, Superintendent Marti Harruff said Wednesday, adding, “I’m still waiting for the report.”

Monte School District wants future money to pay for today
The Montesano School District is facing tough financial times. Basically, the district is asking the state for permission to spend today what it expects to get tomorrow.

Because the school year ended in the red last year, the district hopes to use money from future years to cover the revised budget deficit in this school year’s budget.

“It can take several years” for a district in financial distress to dig itself out, said John Molohon, assistant superintendent for fiscal services with Education Service District 113. The service district is working with the school district to improve its financial standing.

The district ended 2007-2008 with a negative fund balance, which means the district is now under the oversight of the Office of State Public Instruction through Education Service District 113.

The district has to spend nearly $81,000 this year to cover last year’s deficit, bringing the district’s unreserved fund to a negative balance of more than $221,000.

Including the leftover deficit, the district has $107,015 in unexpected expenses above the projected budget for the 2008-2009 school year. It is asking the Office of State Public Instruction for permission to increase the general fund appropriation to nearly $11.7 million to include the extra expenses.

The district is also asking the state for permission to count $140,664 it expects to collect in 2009-2010 taxes in the 2008-2009 budget. The larger figure also reflects more accurate projects of state revenue, Business Manager Sheila Baker said.

The school board unanimously approved the requests at a special meeting Thursday, Feb. 26.

For the state to approve the requests will come with strings attached, Molohon said. The state oversight means the school district will lose some local control, he said.

His office will work with the school district to increase the amount of state money coming to Montesano and cutting costs — including reducing staff to the minimum allowed by state law, Monohon said.

The district plans to host a pair of public meetings this month to discuss its finances and how district leaders plan to dig the district out of trouble.

The forums will be held at 4 p.m. March 12 and 7 p.m. March 23 at the Montesano Junior-Senior High School.

Mark Reed to mull right-to-die
In November’s general election, 57.8 percent of Washington voters casting ballots favored Initiative 1000, termed by proponents as “death with dignity” and by those opposed as “assisted suicide.”

The initiative becomes law today, March 5, and Mark Reed Hospital’s commissioners said they will decide March 26 if the McCleary hospital will allow its physicians to help certain terminally ill patients to end their lives there.

The commissioners — Chairman Brent Meldrum, Roy Musser, Louie Figueroa, Drew Hooper and Amy Thomason — discussed the issue Feb. 26 but said they wouldn’t vote on the issue until their next regular meeting.

Doctors employed by the hospital, part of a public health district, met Tuesday and were expected to make a recommendation to the commissioners before the vote, the commissioners said.

More Sports

Eagle girls cruising through post season
ELMA – With things fairly even through one quarter, it appeared that Elma and R.A. Long of Longview were going to scorch the nets all night long in a tight, back-and-forth district opener. However, the Lumberjills stopped pushing back after the first period and the Eagles ran off with a 62-31 victory in the first round of the District IV Class 2A Girls Basketball Tournament on Friday, Feb. 27, at Elma’s High School Gymnasium.

Rainier eliminates Monte
KELSO – Behind the sharp shooting of Rainier sophomore Kristen Schoenherr, the Mountaineers had enough firepower to knock off Montesano 56-40 in a consolation bracket winner-to-state/loser-out contest at the District IV Class 1A Girls Basketball Tournament on Thursday, Feb. 26, at Kelso High School. The loss marks the end of the Bulldog’ post-season run and leaves their record at a respectable 14-8 on the 2008-09 campaign.

Academic state champs named
The Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association named three athletes from East County Wrestling Academic state champions following the completion of the 2008-09 season. Elma’s Nick Watson and Cody Bensinger were honored with grade point averages of 3.97 and 3.96 respectively, while Montesano’s Michaela Ecklund was honored with a 4.0. Her Monte teammate Cyndi Monroe was an all-academic honorable mention.