PORT ANGELES — Anticipating some $3.9 million in cuts for the 2010-2011 school year, the Port Angeles School District will ask the public where cuts should be made during a meeting today.
The meeting will be at 6 p.m. at the Franklin Elementary library, 2505 S. Washington St.
District officials expect the state Legislature, which is grappling with a projected $2.8 billion deficit, to cut its revenue by some $2.9 million, and to lose an additional $1 million as a result of declining enrollment.
“We’ll be asking for any suggestions that the community might feel is appropriate for the Fiscal Advisory Committee to review,” said Jim Schwob, the district’s business director.
“We’ll consolidate those and put a price tag on them and submit it.
“They will then make recommendations to the School Board.”
The board must decide how many employees to lay off by the end of May. Some of those could later be hired back if funds become available.
“There is a window for them to adjust the budget if additional information comes in,” Schwob said.
At the hearing, Schwob and other district staff will be available to describe the situation and answer questions as well.
A second hearing will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 16, also at Franklin.
In addition to the hearings, the School Board will be available for one-on-one conversations at 6 p.m. Monday at Hamilton Elementary School, 1822 W. Seventh St., prior to the regularly scheduled meeting, which starts at 7 p.m.
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.
Early estimates are the district could lose 137 students next year.
The district’s January enrollment was 3,834 full-time equivalent students, excluding the North Olympic Peninsula Skills Center enrollment.
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.
