FORKS — The Quillayute Valley School Board approved the 2004-05 school budget at a special session Thursday evening.
But it wasn’t easy, said district leaders.
“It was a very, very, very hard budget to work through,” said Bill Rohde, board president, describing the $10.614 million budget that was approved unanimously.
“Obviously, it has some serious ramifications for people, especially our para-educators.
“But, we do have to have a budget and we have to live within our means.”
One administrator axed
The district’s approved budget calls for eliminating the district business manager position held by Bruce Thomas and more than a dozen classified staff — all of them classroom assistants.
Thomas’ last day will be Aug. 31, Walter said.
Classified staff union leaders protested the moves, picketing in Forks and at the School Board meetings during the past couple of weeks.
On Tuesday, however, district Superintendent Frank Walter will meet with leaders of the Public School Employees of Washington union to discuss the cuts as well as which classified staff, exactly, will be affected.
