News & Information

Bellingham School District Acting Superintendent Sherrie Brown presented the Recommended Budget Savings Plan at the Feb. 25 School Board meeting. The plan is based on ideas submitted from staff and the public, a recommendation from the District Budget Advisory Committee, and additional input from staff and the public.

The district needs to have a savings plan in place by mid-March when the state Legislature is expected to finish its work. The state budget deficit is currently identified as being at least $2.8 billion. We know—based on the information currently available in the Governor’s proposed budget, the growing state budget deficit and anticipated rising expenses—that we will need to reduce our district’s $100 million general operating budget by approximately $2 million and this estimate could grow.

Please click here to view the Recommended Budget Savings Plan. The School Board’s online Listening Post is always open: please click here. In addition, the Board will hold a Listening Session at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 4 at Northern Heights Elementary School, 4000 Magrath Road. The Listening Session is for any community or staff member to provide public comment about the Budget Savings Plan Recommendation to one or more Board members. All comments will be recorded and provided to every Board member. This is a time for Board members to listen, not to discuss budget savings concerns. Staff will be available to answer questions. Following the Listening Session, the School Board will take action on the Budget Savings Plan Recommendation on March 11, 2010.