Bellingham Public Schools plans to eliminate just over 25 full-time positions to address a projected multi-million-dollar budget shortfall.
The cuts — which include some reduced hours, attrition and leaves of absence — impact 15 full-time certificated teaching positions, 2.2 full-time classified staff positions, and 8 full-time administrative and support staff positions.
The district had projected a deficit of $15 million for next year, which administrators credit to mainly inflationary increases and state funds not keeping up with those increases. Some new revenue and funding will lessen that deficit to about $11.4 million: that’s coming from a combination of additional funding from the state, fee increases, sponsors and funds from the Bellingham Public Schools Foundation.
But the remaining $11.4 million will need to be addressed through staff cuts, increases in class sizes and supplies, and professional development cuts.
Superintendent Greg Baker will take three furlough days this year and five next year, the district announced. Baker made $386,058 in the school year 2023-24 — the highest superintendent salary in Whatcom County and the 12th highest school employee salary in the state. Executive team administrators will take four furlough days next year. All administrators will have their pay frozen at the 24-25 rate next year.
The furlough days and pay freezes for all the administrators will save the district around $1 million, Spokesperson Dana Smith said.
The district will also reduce the number of paid professional development days for teachers and defer 1% of teacher pay increases.
“We appreciate the support and collaboration of our labor groups,” Smith said in an email. “Without their partnership, the impacts on our staff and their jobs would have been greater.”
Other changes include an increase in lunch meal prices by 25 cents, and an encouraged $100 fee for driver’s education and high school sports. The district also plans to find more advertising opportunities through high school sports apps and scoreboards.
The school district also reduced the length of its school year by one day to reduce costs.
Bellingham School Board and district officials advocated for the state to better fund education ahead of and during this year’s legislative session. Baker said in a letter to the community that while the Legislature did provide new investments, “it’s clear that the state’s funding for K-12 education continues to be inadequate.”
School funding comes through several streams, including the state and federal governments. Districts can also raise additional funds through property tax increases: school levies can provide additional funds for staffing, equipment and more, while bonds provide funds for construction and remodeling projects. Those bond funds can’t be used for other purposes; for example, they can’t be used to pay teachers.
As a way to address budget challenges, Baker said the district is planning for a possible special levy in November to fund maintenance and capital projects.
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.