Vashon Island School District is facing yet another financial crisis — but not one of its own making. Due to a sad confluence of factors in the state Legislature, those lawmakers who believe in a basic principle of democracy — that it takes a shared responsibility called taxation to ensure equal access to decent, publicly financed schools — were outnumbered in the legislative session that just ended.

As a result, legislation to end tax loopholes that give Wall Street-based banks a tax break in Washington could not make it out of committee. What emerged instead were far-reaching cuts to K-12 public education — cuts that punch a $1.2 million hole into the Vashon school district’s already stretched $15 million budget.

Now, it’s up to us — those Islanders who care about public education — to salvage the situation. 

The newly formed Vashon Schools Foundation is trying to raise $550,000 by June 11 to help make up for this huge shortfall. Should it fail, critical programs and positions will likely be cut from the Vashon school system.

At Chautauqua, class sizes would grow larger. At Vashon High School, science electives would be cut; the counseling staff would be reduced; and advanced math would be compressed from three trimesters into two. Parents at a recent public meeting made clear what a compressed math schedule could mean for their kids: Some students might find themselves sitting down to take the SATs having not had a math class in a few months — a tough situation for those hoping to score high enough to get into a competitive college.

And that’s not all. The high school percussion ensemble — this year comprised by a remarkably talented crop of kids — is slated to be cut. A competitive debate course would end. A custodial position would be eliminated. And teachers, most of whom haven’t had a pay raise in three years, will see their salaries drop by nearly 2 percent.

Some may not want to support the fundraising effort out of principle: Isn’t this why we pay taxes? Sure. But while some of us debate the principles of universal education, our kids’ academic opportunities are unraveling.

The fact is, this state has historically under-funded public education — and now, due to a recession and an anti-tax mindset that is short-sighted and in many cases shallow and self-serving, public education across the state is facing a crisis. 

We urge Islanders to step forward. It shouldn’t be this way. We shouldn’t have to hold a community fundraiser to fill basic gaps in public education. But we do. So let’s meet this challenge and do our best to ensure Vashon kids have decent, academically rich schools.