BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Bellingham Public Schools is making staff cuts as it laments a lack of state funding.
Superintendent Greg Baker says the district is facing an estimated $15 million budget shortfall for the upcoming school year.
Roughly 25% of the deficit will be trimmed with new state funding, fee increases, sponsors and funds from the Bellingham Public Schools Foundation.
To address the remaining $11.4 million funding gap, the district plans to reduce its staff by the equivalent of around 25 full-time positions. The cuts include eight full-time administrative and support staff positions, 15 full-time certificated teaching positions and just over two full-time classified staff positions across the district.
District spokesperson Dana Smith says some of the reductions have already begun through attrition and leaves of absence.
The district will slightly increase class sizes in grades 4-12 and reduce the school year by a day as part of its other plans cut costs.
Baker says there could also be a special levy in November to fund maintenance projects across the district.
Despite an increase in funding for special education and materials, supplies and more, Baker says the state’s allocation for K-12 education “continues to be inadequate.”
