Many school districts around Washington state have been confronted with budget challenges this year, and Coupeville is no exception.

Although a decline in enrollment was forecast in the annual budget, enrollment slipped below the district’s prediction, significantly reducing revenues.

“We were prepared to weather an enrollment decrease,” Superintendent Patty Page said, “but the statewide revenue cuts for this year were more than we anticipated.”

According to Page, the district intends to focus on looking for creative ideas and solutions in developing the 2011-2012 budget. “There are amazing things happening in our schools and we intend to do whatever we can to make that continue,” Page said.

The district is holding an information sharing and brainstorming evening at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20, in the Coupeville Middle & High School Commons. Page will review the current and anticipated budget status for the district and then initiate discussion groups, hoping to spark ideas that lead to possible funding sources. The district’s administrators are optimistic that several “do-able” ideas will emerge.