Bellingham schools to cut services, teaching positions amid budget crunch
Faced with declining enrollment and reduced funding from the state, Bellingham Public Schools is reducing its teaching staff and making cuts to a wide range of student services.
Bellingham schools spokeswoman Dana Smith told The Bellingham Herald that 60 “certificated” positions were being cut, with about half from attrition, but she did not specifically say that layoffs were possible or which positions could be eliminated. Teachers, counselors, librarians and nurses fall into the certificated category because they require credentials beyond a college degree.
“We estimate a total certificated reduction of around 60 full-time equivalent positions, half of which we anticipate will be achieved through attrition,” Smith told The Herald in an email. “Each year, we adjust staffing based on enrollment fluctuations, and 22 FTE are reduced due to lower enrollment. 15.5 FTE is due to the high school schedule, which allows for more efficient use of teaching FTE. The remaining accounts for tightening up in some areas (for example: physical education/music) and changes to programming (for example: library media specialists, counseling). Classified staff will be affected due to specific program adjustments, and we have also added classified hours and/or positions in areas like special education.”
Superintendent Greg Baker outlined the district’s budget situation in an emailed statement Friday that said that the district is looking at a $7.5 million shortfall in funds from the Washington Legislature.
“We care deeply about our staff and do not make decisions to reduce staff lightly,” Baker said in an emailed statement.
Classroom sizes are not being increased, but cuts are planned to school libraries, athletics, the Promise K program for preschoolers and the Running Start program that allows high school students to take community college courses. Few details were provided.
“We will be restructuring support staff at schools. One example of this is in our school libraries; they will continue to be open to students all day, but the staffing model will change. We are one of the last districts in our area to have certificated library media specialists. We will be reassigning librarians teaching positions in the classroom and staffing libraries with non-certificated staff to support students. We will also be slightly adjusting dean and counseling support at the elementary level and counseling at the middle school level,” Baker said.
An outdoor education program for fifth-graders will be paused, and the district will look for “efficiencies” in its music and physical education programs. Participation fees for athletics are being examined, and the district is pursuing commercial sponsorships.
Budget considerations are ongoing, Baker said.
“Similar to the reductions made over the last few years, we will continue to refine staffing at the District Office and itinerant staff. Some of these reductions are through attrition, meaning when someone leaves or retires, to keep costs down we don’t always hire a replacement. Examples include reductions in human resources, grants, teaching and learning, health services, teachers on special assignment, facilities and mental health services,” he said.
Baker asked students and their families, staff members and others to demand that their state representatives fully fund education.
“If you’re upset, we understand. We are frustrated as well,” he said.
