PORT TOWNSEND –School district officials are looking for a way to save a language program at Port Townsend High School that is slated to be eliminated because of a reduction in the number of teachers.
School Board members this week approved cutting 1.1 teaching positions, which caused a ripple effect resulting in removing the French program from the curriculum as the Port Townsend School District faces a budget shortfall of more than $750,000.
“We didn’t cut the French program, but the reduction forced us to move that teacher to a different position,” said Carol Andreason, superintendent of schools.
School officials have delayed high school registration until May 21 to buy time to see if there’s a solution that would allow the board to retain the French program.
“We have to make a decision by next week or registration will be a real mess,” Andreason said.
A late teacher resignation or retirement could change the picture, but Andreason said she hadn’t heard of any as of Wednesday.
“You never know what’s going to happen,” Andreason said.