Oak Harbor school administrators will soon start hacking away at staff and programs to close a multi-million dollar budget gap.

Teachers and other staff positions will be cut, transportation will be reduced and an elementary school will likely close in an effort to balance the school district’s budget.

A 44-item list has been compiled that identifies more than $4 million in potential cuts to staff and programs that could be made before the budget is adopted in August. A budget committee comprised of teachers, staff, and administrators put together the list of cuts.

On the chopping block are 14 certificated positions, which would include teachers, counselors and librarians, as well as several administrative and support positions.

School officials estimate a $3.5 million shortfall in the 2007-2008 budget caused by declining enrollment, increased employee costs and depleted reserve funds.

The falling enrollment numbers, which have continued over the past seven years, prompted officials to consider closing Clover Valley Elementary School near the main gate at the Navy base. The school board is expected to make a decision on whether to close the 300-student school this month. Closing the school will save the school district an estimated $540,000 a year and concentrate some of the cuts at a single school.

Superintendent Rick Schulte said no decisions have been made regarding any of the proposed cuts.

With the list formed, the budget committee will have to see what can be cut and how to accommodate the workload among the remaining staff.

“If anything is eliminated … then what are we going to do without it?” Schulte asked rhetorically.

The teachers’ union, the Oak Harbor Education Association, hopes the upcoming cuts will take place away from the classroom.

“Teachers want to make sure reductions begin on the administrative level and as far removed from the classroom as possible,” said Peter Szalai, president of the Oak Harbor Education Association.

He said he had assurances from administration that cuts from teaching positions will come through attrition and not through layoffs.

The proposed list of cuts also affects workers belonging to the PSE union, which represents support employees, such as instructional assistants, maintenance workers, and custodians for the district.

The list of proposed reductions shows cuts to custodial staff, maintenance workers, office and library staff.

“The projected budget cuts have a tremendous impact on PSE both in actual workforce and in the up and coming negotiations,” said Linda Preder, co-president of the PSE union. “As you can imagine, we are extremely concerned the burden of the budget cuts are falling on members of PSE.”

She said two PSE members are serving on the district’s budget committee and the union is keeping a watchful eye on the budget process.

Schulte said there is truth that cuts will be coming for the PSE union workers. There are approximately 35 positions that aren’t funded from a specific, dedicated source, such as state basic education allocation, the maintenance and operations levy or student achievement act fund.

School officials want to have a prioritized list of potential cuts ready by March 1. That way there is enough time to prepare for the coming school year.

A balanced budget has to be approved by Aug. 31. The district is waiting for the state Legislature to determine funding.

The budget shortfall comes as negotiations with two large unions approach. The PSE union’s contract comes up this year and the teachers’ contract comes up next year.

Contract negotiations haven’t begun yet with PSE.

The last contract negotiations, which took place in 2004 and 2005, were tense. PSE workers worked approximately six months without a contract, a state mediator was brought in to help with talks, and the union authorized a pre-strike resolution before a contract was finally approved in February 2005.

Teachers’ representative Szalai said whatever cuts that happen in the coming budget will last at least three years.

When negotiations begin, he said the union will focus on maintaining current working conditions, preserving pay and ensuring members keep their jobs.

You can reach News-Times reporter Nathan Whalen at nwhalen@whidbeynewstimes.com or call 675-6611.