As part of its budget reductions, the White River School District will drop its elementary physical education and music programs.

Punctuated by periods of silence and contemplation, Superintendent Tom Lockyer made the announcement to the White River School Board at its Feb. 25 meeting, where he and staff laid out its plan to trim $3.4 million from the 2009-10 school budget.

“It’s sad,” Board member Jean Lacy said. “It’s something we have to give up.”

Earlier, district officials announced they would combine two of the district’s smaller elementary schools – Wilkeson and Wickersham School of Discovery – and reduce teaching staff by approximately 21.

Those plans will continue.

“We know people won’t agree with us, but these are the best decisions we could make,” said Lockyer, who added he appreciated the White River teachers union’s willingness to meet with the district. The recommendations presented to the board are those of principals, central office administrative staff, the cabinet and Lockyer. “There isn’t a school district in the state that isn’t looking at the same things we’re looking at.

“These are decisions none of us wanted to make,” Lockyer said. During the past two years, White River has already made millions of dollars in cuts and the district’s flexibility is gone. Lockyer said.

Add to that a predicted drop in enrollment of 200 students in the fall, obligated increases in negotiated agreements and an anticipated decrease in state funding, and the district is in crisis mode. Lockyer said he and district leaders have been keeping close tabs on the situation and it’s not getting brighter.

An Office of Superintend-ent of Public Instruction video conference Feb. 24 regarding federal stimulus money didn’t look promising, Lockyer reported. The district anticipates getting some helpful federal dollars in the form of special education and Title I, but other money will be on an application basis and although White River certainly has need or is poised to be in the forefront with some of its programs, he noted, so does every other district in the state that will be scrambling for that money too.

The largest reductions will come in people – $1.8 million worth. Certificated staff will be let go, some by attrition, but many because their programs will no longer exist like the high school’s digitools and personal choices programs, which amount to approximately five teachers; elementary music and physical education equals almost seven jobs.

Retooling middle school P.E. will present the loss of almost three teachers. Two retire/rehire teachers at the high school are on the list of reductions. The remainder, approximately four, will likely be at the elementary level, depending on student numbers.

Classified staff, which took the brunt of last year’s cuts, will need to trim down slightly, to the tune of approximately $256,000.

Administrative staff will also be trimmed.

The district expects to lose $193,000 in grants and reductions that would cover math and science, professional development, programs for highly capable students and Business Town. These programs will not be funded through other sources at this time.

There are also anticipated losses in Initiative 728 money, which is tied directly to staff and professional development. With the current market, the district’s tree farm isn’t even a revenue producer right now.

With its financial reserves dwindling to near nothing, the district has been under the watchful eye of the state.

The Puget Sound Educational Service District, assigned to monitor White River’s financial situation, has been helping with the process.