Economic problems reach Wahluke

MATTAWA - If you think the national economy makes no difference to you, you may want to rethink.

Budget problems that have befallen the State of Washington because of the economy have now transferred to the Wahluke School District.

Wahluke Superintendent Aaron Chavez estimates the district budget will be cut by more than $1 million when all of the separate budget cuts are totaled.

"We're going to make these cuts up by doing a six percent cut across district department and program budgets," he said.

The cuts will include personnel, starting with Assistant Superintendent Leonor de Maldonado. She is actively looking for a new district after one year in Mattawa.

"When budgets are cut, people have to be cut. That's just what happens," she said.

Chavez said some of the reductions will come through attrition. Some people are retiring. And some positions are being eliminated.

"It will affect the district by having less staff and, unfortunately, we may have to raise class sizes," Chavez said.

Chavez said a district budget committee, made up of staff from across the district, made recommendations regarding which areas needed to be reduced or trimmed from the budget.

"Unfortunately, we will have to reduce staff to maintain a balanced budget," he said.

According to Chavez, the biggest cut to the district was 53 percent of the  Learning Assistance Program budget, or $500,000. Ten percent of the bilingual program, or $100,000 was cut.

The Even Start program was cut by $183,000, Chavez said. The K-4 Enhancement Program was cut by $200,000. And there were other cuts, including federal stimulus funding.