SEQUIM — More than two hours into a meeting Monday night in which $1.2 million in budget cuts were to be finalized, Sequim School District board members still had not agreed on where to slash programs for 2004-2005.
The complex process involved poring over an exhaustive list of budgeted expenditures ranging from academic programs to building upkeep and maintenance of technological systems.
Board members held three public comment sessions to solicit input that would guide them in making their decisions.
They were then expected to submit to Schools Superintendent Garn Christensen their preferences on which programs should stay and which would have to go.
The cuts result from the recent failure of a two-year, $5.44 replacement maintenance and operations levy election.
The district will give the levy request another try in a special, all-mail election ending May 18.
But terms with certificated staff require that notice be given by May 15 to employees whose contracts will not be renewed for the following school year.
If the May levy passes, some programs slashed as a result of Monday’s meeting could be restored, Christensen said.
A complete report on decisions made after press time Monday will appear in Wednesday’s edition.
