Coupeville educators protest state cuts, call for full funding

Teachers and school staff gathered at the Main Street and Highway 20 intersection in Coupeville on Jan. 7 to protest state education funding cuts that have already produced furlough days and reductions in school programs. Organized by the Coupeville Education Association, the demonstration aimed to raise public awareness and push for restored state funding so local schools can keep services and instructional time intact.

Carrying signs and asking passersby to contact state lawmakers, educators said they appreciate community support but warned that continued cuts will make it increasingly difficult to deliver essential programs and services to students. Furlough days have shortened the school calendar and program reductions limit classroom offerings and extracurriculars that many families rely on.

The protest underscored how state budget decisions play out at the local level in Island County. When funding is reduced, districts face few options besides cutting staff hours, reducing course offerings, delaying repairs, or trimming counseling and support services. For students who already experience economic or learning disadvantages, those cuts can widen gaps in access to education and support.

Public health and social equity are central to the dispute. Schools are more than classroom buildings; they provide mental health supports, special education services, meals, and a stable environment for vulnerable children. Reductions in staff time and programs increase pressure on remaining personnel, raise stress and burnout risks among educators, and can limit identification and timely care for students with behavioral or mental health needs. Those effects ripple into families, caregivers, and local services.

The demonstration was also a call to civic action. Organizers asked community members to contact their state legislators to press for full funding of public schools. Increased local engagement matters because lawmakers set the funding formulas and budgets that determine whether districts can maintain current services or must scale back. Public input, stories from families and teachers, and turnout at events or board meetings influence how those decisions are made.

For Coupeville and neighboring Island County communities, the immediate impact is tangible: fewer instructional days, fewer programs for students, and tighter budgets for the school year ahead. Long term, persistent underfunding risks eroding the breadth of services that promote equity and healthy child development across the island.

The takeaway? Reach out to your state lawmakers, bring specific examples of how cuts affect kids in our community, and take a seat at the next school board meeting. Our two cents? A phone call or an email from a neighbor matters—if you care about sustaining schools that support every child, speak up and show up.