SEQUIM — Amid Sequim’s growth, the student body is slimming.
The affordable housing shortage here is a primary factor in keeping the young population almost flat, said Garn Christensen, superintendent of the Sequim School District.
“In my opinion, young families can’t afford to live here,” he said.
But “early retirees — people who can afford to live anywhere they want — are moving in,” and some have middle school- or high school-age children.
The Olympic Multiple Listing Service indicates that of 538 Sequim area homes now on the market, $329,500 is the median price. That means half the homes are priced higher and half are lower.
In Port Angeles and environs, 356 houses are on the market and the median is $279,000.
The Sequim School District projects an enrollment of 2,799 students in its five schools for the school year starting Sept. 6 — down from last year’s 2,841.
The school district budget, however, reflects the state of the rest of the world: It’s growing as fuel and other costs rise.
The Sequim School District Board of Directors plans a public hearing on the 2006-2007 budget today.
The meeting will be at 6 p.m. in the board room inside the Performing Arts building, 533 N. Sequim Ave.
Fuel costs ‘skyrocketing’
District business manager Dede Juliussen expects expenditures to rise from last year’s $21,207,410 to $22,654,813 this year.
The salaries for Sequim’s 174 full-time-equivalent teaching positions range from $31,386 to $59,157, Juliussen said.
Those certificated teachers and the 85 staff positions saw a 3.3 percent raise this year. The state Legislature sets school employees’ salaries and raises, she said.
But pay raises aren’t the reasons behind the climb in expenditures, Juliussen added.
The budget increase stems largely from diesel costs that are “skyrocketing,” and higher costs for employees’ retirement benefits.
The cost of propane to heat some school buildings has also risen.
The school district did save money by switching to a unified bus schedule this fall.
