PORT TOWNSEND — Two weeks ago, the Port Townsend School District board room was filled to capacity when the School Board discussed cutting high school French classes after being forced to cut the number of teachers.
Another large group is expected to fill the board’s meeting room Monday night — this time in the old Lincoln Elementary School building that houses the district’s administration at 450 Fir St. — as the board deliberates an idea that would save French but cut into athletics.
The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m.
The budget cuts were forced by rising expenses for wages and benefits coupled with lower enrollment, the barometer by which the state funds school districts.
Faced with a 2004-05 budget deficit approaching $750,000, board members have agreed with Superintendent Carol Andreason’s recommendation to eliminate 5.8 teaching positions in addition to reducing the number of teacher aides in special education.
A reduction in the number of non-certificated staff is also proposed.
