YAKIMA VALLEY SCHOOL TAKES CENTER STAGE IN FIRST SENATE BUDGET HEARING

The Senate Ways and Means Committee ended up spending some two hours on the proposed closure of Yakima Valley School in its first hearing on the Senate budget plan released Monday. The public hearing continues today on other parts of the budget.

Meanwhile, a little noticed provision in the Senate budget bill (SB 5600) would set up closure of another residential habilitation center, Frances Haddon Morgan Center in Bremerton. The budget directs DSHS to write a plan to close the Morgan Center and present its findings by Jan. 15, 2010. So the fight now is to save both Yakima Valley School and the Morgan Center.

Back at the Senate hearing, members from several locals, including Local 1326 at Yakima Valley School, stood in unison as a panel of Federation members testified.

Proponents of institution closure painted a picture of Yakima Valley School and other RHCs as something out of Oliver Twist.

“The word ‘institution’ brings to mind something that Yakima Valley School and other RHCs are not,” said Julianne Moore, who works at YVS and is president of Local 1326. “We are people’s homes that the families have chosen….

“We are a highly qualified and dedicated staff. The state has invested a lot of dollars training us.”

Moore passed out to the committee the report showing that the state saves more money by keeping Yakima Valley School open than by closing it and shipping residents to nursing homes.

“I know you’ve got hard decisions to make….,” Moore told the committee. “Tell me you’re going to bet the same service somewhere else, cheaper. Because all the studies show they’re not.”

Moore said what the Senate budget proposes shouldn’t be taken lightly.

“At a minimum, caution needs to be taken in considering closing any RHC,” she said. “Moving in this hurried, unplanned way that DSHS is insisting on will have serious, negative ramifications.”

Sola Raynor, a Spokane Local 1221 member in DD field services, said the layoffs at Yakima Valley School will have harmful effects on the economy of Selah and Yakima County.

“Yakima Valley School is an investment that needs to continue through tough economic times,” Raynor said.