Mt. Baker schools prepare for cutbacks

Mount Baker School District is looking at a deficit of $400,000 to $600,000 for the 2008-09 school year. District officials have only completed a preliminary budget at this time and will determine which programs and staff members will be affected in the coming weeks.

“My experience has always been that the first time we run it (the budget), there are huge pieces that need to be changed, so it’s vague at best,” Gantman said.

Factors affecting Mount Baker’s budget are the same as other districts: declining enrollment, rising costs of everyday goods and increased personnel costs due to recent legislative action.

But one of the biggest cost increases impacting the Mount Baker School District is rising diesel prices. The large rural district logs more than 500,000 miles in bus transportation each year, Gantman said.

“We have to get ready for our cost of diesel fuel to be at least $4.50 (a gallon) next year,” Gantman said.

And like other districts, Gantman is trying to make sure budget cuts are done in ways that affect students the least.

“Large scale change takes a long time and it would really be a shame to see the wind taken out of the sails for all improvements schools are making,” he said. “We won’t let this trouble the kids. Whatever we need to do, we’ll continue to give the kids a great experience.”

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