Governor talks to KIMA about Yakima schools & charter school initiative

Governor talks to KIMA about Yakima schools & charter school initiative »Play Video
YAKIMA, Wash. -- Governor Chris Gregoire winds down her term with a couple of stops in the Yakima Valley today.

KIMA asked her how she expects local schools to thrive as stimulus money disappears.

"We have cut and cut and cut. There's not a whole lot left to cut overall in the budget. Our economic recovery is not happening like we had hoped, it's slow, it's steady, but it's slow. So we're gonna have to find new resources. That's the future for this area particularly," Gregoire said.

Districts like Yakima recently transferred money from reserves to balance the budget.

The Governor did not say where any new resources might come from.

Action News also asked Gregoire about the challenges facing local schools and her stance on the charter school initiative that you will decide at the ballot box in November.

"I'm not a supporter. I'm not a supporter because I have studied this issue. Everywhere across the country I see no better results from charter schools than I do public schools, yet we're struggling to support our public schools and now we're going to add charter schools. How are going to pay for them," Gregoire said.

Charter schools would be exempt from some government rules to give them flexibility in curriculum and teaching.