School district planning for budget cuts

The school district already cut $3 million in cuts from last year’s spending to balance this year’s budget. Those cuts prompted by declining enrollment and cuts in funding from the state, issues which only will expend this coming year.

The news from the state legislature isn’t all bad with some important education reforms among the last issues dealt with before the legislature ended the 60-day regular session last week.

Lawmakers expanded the definition of basic education to include early learning,a new policy shift that brings preschool into the pubic education fold. Anacortes already has an early learning program, which is probably safe from cuts next year.

But, other Anacortes district programs may be trimmed or cut entirely. District Business & Finance Director Lisa Matthews told a recent School Board meeting that Anacortes schools could have 100 fewer students next year, which will cut government support.

Board member Mitch Everton said that looking at a lost of 100 students, “the biggest question is do we have to RIF (reduce positions) or don’t we?”

Matthews indicated the school district might need to make cuts of $600,000 in a best case scenario or as much as $one million.

But, School Superintendent Chris Borgen suggested, “There is a potential we could avoid” letting any teachers go, despite the grim revenue outlook.

Calling the school district “asset rich,” Everton said, “There are programs that aren’t relevant to our core mission.” And, he repeated an idea he advanced last year that the district could turn to outsourcing school lunches and bus transportation, saying the district could save money there.

Meanwhile, the district does have some money for busses and and capital projects. There is about $580,000 available for capital projects and $286,000 for the purchase of new buses.