About 230 people came out last Thursday evening and another 100 participated on Saturday morning in community budget forums designed to get feedback on potential budget cuts for 2009-10. A third budget forum was held Monday evening.

Parents, students, staff, and community members came together to review 35 possible budget cuts. In groups of six to ten, they tried to reach consensus on several million dollars worth of cuts. Participants were also encouraged to submit cost-saving ideas of their own.

“It was really hard to find cuts we could agree on,” said the parent of a Mount Rainier student. “I learned a lot about the budget process,” she added.

In each of the forums, about 30 Spanish-speaking parents participated in the process in Spanish.  Somali, Vietnamese, and Cambodian interpreters were also available.

The school district faces budget cuts up to $8 million due to state funding reductions. The state legislature adopted a budget over the weekend; district staff is analyzing it to determine how Highline’s funding will be impacted.

The list of possible budget cuts is posted at www.hsd401.org. Feedback can be given through an online comment form.