PORT ANGELES — If Monroe Elementary School isn’t closed in June, the Port Angeles School District will be forced to make budget cuts throughout the district to avoid a projected $300,000 deficit next year.
That either/or message will be delivered by district administrators to the School Board as it holds a special meeting tonight to digest public testimony and other information involving the budget deficit and five-week-old plans to shutter the east Port Angeles elementary school.
The board will convene at 7 p.m. at the district’s Central Services Building, 216 E. Fourth St., during which time administrators will walk the five-member board through several options, School Board President Charlie McClain said.
The special meeting was called to help the board determine whether it will continue planning for the school closure or terminate the 90-day closure process, McClain said Tuesday.
The board in March voted 4-1 to trigger the process that could lead to the “mothballing” of Monroe school in June.
“We are faced with very tough choices,” McClain said. “I do expect that we will come to consensus after the study session.
“We need to give the community clarity in which direction we are going.”
In the past two years, board members have made $2.2 million in budget cuts.
“Choosing alternative budget cuts would be extremely difficult,” McClain said.
“We are faced with the tough decision of closing a school or making cuts to successful programs. This is not an easy decision.”
McClain said board members Tuesday were provided a 25-page report compiled by district administrators.
The report outlines alternative budget cuts suggested by community members during two April public hearings, plus projected money savings where applicable.
