PORT ANGELES — Facing perhaps as much as $3.6 million in cuts from the state, the Port Angeles School District is seeking comment from the public on what will get the ax for the 2010-2011 school year.
About $700,000 of the anticipated cuts are a result of the district’s continuing declining enrollment, said School Board President Lonnie Linn said Thursday.
“Even just the declining enrollment is tough enough,” Linn said.
“That will be cut in a formula-driven way. There isn’t much we can do about that.”
Early estimates are that the district could lose 130 students next year.
The district’s January enrollment was 3,834 full-time equivalent students, excluding the North Olympic Peninsula Skills Center enrollment.
Losing 130 students in the next school year could translate into trimming five jobs from the levels that see the highest decline — a method the district calls “formula-driven” cuts.
The rest of the cuts are estimated based on information from the state Legislature.
“We get new information nearly daily,” Linn said. “And the state is just getting in deeper.
“One day they were having to cut $2.6 billion [from the state budget] and the next day it was already up to $2.7 billion.”
There are too many factors to determine how many jobs might ultimately be cut, Linn said.
“We’re also trying to look at the worst-case scenario,” he said.
“It is the only responsible thing to do.”
Two hearings set
The district will hold two hearings to ask for public input on where to make cuts.
The first hearing will be at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Franklin Elementary library, 2505 S. Washington St.
The second hearing will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 16, also at Franklin.
The district’s Fiscal Advisory Committee — which includes School Board members, union representatives, parents, principals, students and other community members — will make formal recommendations on cuts in the early spring, the school district said in a statement.
The committee will meet every other Wednesday for the rest of this month, and will begin meeting every Wednesday after that, Linn said.
The committee will be taking ideas from the public, and will consider if they are feasible, Linn said.
“You try to think outside the box, but we have been doing this for nine years,” Linn said.
The district made $2.5 million in cuts from the 2009-2010 budget.
“Right now everything is preliminary,” Linn said. “You get so tired of fighting for money.
“The board was there last Sunday and Monday talking to the Legislators.”
Other possible cuts
Linn said he has heard some of the legislative cuts may be from Initiative 728 — a voter-approved method of reducing class sizes — as well as cuts to a kindergarten through fourth grade fund to reduce classes sizes at that level.
“We also have heard that we are losing our Title 1 funding, which is what we use to fund extended-day kindergarten,” Linn said.
“That really hurts, because it is something I really want to keep around.”
In addition to the hearings, the School Board will be available for one-on-one conversations at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22 at Hamilton Elementary School, 1822 W. Seventh St., prior to the regularly scheduled meeting.
“We will do our best work to preserve the quality programs for all of our students,” Superintendent Jane Pryne said in a statement.
“I encourage community members to attend one of the budget forums to learn the facts of the budget crises the district is facing and to offer fresh ideas and solutions to the current dilemma.
“I’m appreciative of the work our Fiscal Advisory Committee is doing, and we will be thoughtful in reviewing all the suggestions that are sent to us.”
Questions, comments or suggestions may be e-mailed to budget@portangelesschools.org or sent by mail to Fiscal Advisory Committee, Port Angeles School District, 216 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles, WA 98362.
The district Web site will be updated as information becomes available, officials said.
To view this information click on “Budget News” at www.portangelesschools.org.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
