Cuts will be coming to the Coupeville School District during the 2006-2007 school year.

The district is dealing with higher employee costs, including a legislature-mandated, 3.3 percent cost of living adjustment, increased retirement costs and higher health-care payments.

Superintendent Bill Myhr said the increased retirement payment to the state affected the school’s budget most directly.

“That was a big hit,” Myhr said. The amount the school district pays for its retirement contribution increased by $128,000, going from $150,000 this year to $278,000 next school year. Myhr said the money is equivalent to the salaries and benefits of two teachers.

With the cost-of-living adjustment, the school district received money from the legislature to pay for employees that are paid with basic education dollars. For employees that are paid with federal, local levy or I-728 dollars, the school district is responsible for paying their raises.

To help balance the district’s $9.35 million budget, officials came up with a list of cuts. Those cuts include eliminating three special education para-educators and not filling some vacant positions — including one for a middle school history teacher.

The school district is also holding off on purchasing a piano for the elementary school and the furniture and equipment replacement budget has been cut.

With those reductions, the school district is still approximately $50,000 short of balancing the budget.

Myhr said revisions in the coming weeks should balance the budget. A draft should be ready for public comment and board approval by the July school board meeting.

There could be some additions to staffing levels shortly after the school year starts.

Because special education is a needs-based program, the para-educator positions could be hired back should the need arise.

The Coupeville School District also has a priority list of positions and items that could be brought in should revenue increase with higher-than-budgeted enrollment. Those items include a science materials coordinator; a full-time employee responsible for monitoring in-school suspensions; a full-time custodian; a technology assessment for the school district; and a half-time counselor position at the elementary school.

During Monday’s meeting board members discussed the future of the Parent-Child Home Program. The program, where a staff member works with parents to improve their ability to teach their preschool-aged children, was set to be eliminated as a cost-saving measure.

“We feel our first obligation is to students that are already in school,” board member Kathleen Anderson said.

However, Myhr said he talked with elementary school staff and they wanted the Parent-Child program to continue. The coordinator would work half time and also half time as an elementary school counselor.

Anderson said she wished the board had information about the staff’s opinion before the program was considered for elimination.

“I wish that voice was heard before you brought us a recommendation to eliminate it,” Anderson said.

Myhr apologized for any misunderstanding that occurred