Other Headlines
Monte schools stare down nearly $400K loss
MONTESANO — Montesano School District officials expect to see a nearly 71 percent drop per student in state revenue from Initiative 728. The money distributed to school districts in response to the voter-approved measure must be used to reduce class size and provide extended learning opportunities.

Prior to state budget cuts to meet a projected shortfall, the district anticipated $458.10 per student from the initiative money. Now, the district expects $131.16 per student, Superintendent Marti Harruff told school board members at a May 7 public hearing. The district estimates it will have 1,190 students next year, Harruff said. That means state I-728 money will drop from $545,139 to $156,080. However, until the district knows how many students it has, the actual effect on the 2009-2010 budget won’t be known.

At the hearing, several people strongly urged the district to use the money to re-hire as many as possible of the 22 teachers who recently were notified they wouldn’t be working for the district next fall. Jobs are a top priority as they relate to student education and classroom size, board member Brian Hornback later said. The loss is compounded by the loss of other state revenue that, combined, make the shortfall larger than $1 million.

Transfer of parks still option
Despite new legislation designed to keep state parks open, Lake Sylvia and Schafer state parks are still on the short list of possible park transfers. However, the reality is nobody able to take over the parks has stepped forward, so the state will continue to manage them, said Ilene Frisch, director of administration, finance and technology for the state parks department.

Deputy jobs saved
MONTESANO — Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office employees agreed to concessions that will keep two deputies on the road and a support staffer on the job. The corrections officers’ union made no concessions, meaning one officer likely will be laid off.

“We were looking for this sort of cooperation,” Commissioner Al Carter said. The cuts taken by the criminal division and support staff bargaining units amount to about a 3 percent cut for staff, said Darren O’Neil, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters 252, which represents all three bargaining units in the sheriff’s office. The concessions come to about $78,000 from the criminal division and $15,000 from the support staff, Sheriff Mike Whelan said.

Elma cuts 15 teachers
ELMA — Due to large cuts in state funding resulting in major impacts to basic education, the Elma School District has cut 15.8 fulltime equivalent teacher positions for next year — about 14 percent of its certified teaching force, Superintendent Howard King said.

That would save the district about $600,000, said Lisa Arnold, the district’s business manager. Overall, the district is working on ways to cut about $1 million from its budget for the 2009-2010 year. This year’s budget was $17.5 million; next year’s is projected to be a little less than $16.5 million, Arnold said.

McCleary School District cuts one
McCLEARY — At a special meeting May 7, the McCleary School Board approved eliminating a teacher next school year. Though it’s still unknown exactly how deep state funding cuts will be, deadlines are looming, and Superintendent Dan Bolender suggested projected cuts of about $92,000 in the district’s budget. By law, school districts must notify certified staff of changes in their positions by May 15, and next year’s budget is due to the state Educational Service District by July 10.

More Sports
Bulldogs take care of Class 3A Cougars
MONTESANO — Utilizing all facets of the game — some small ball, a long ball, solid pitching and tough defense — Montesano upended the sixth-ranked Class 3A Holy Names Academy 7-2 in a non-league fastpitch match-up Saturday, May 9, at Crait Field.

Elma’s Crawford/Hurd notch back-to-back wins
ELMA — In just the second night of racing this season at Grays Harbor Raceway, the driving team of Brian Crawford and Aaron Hurd of Elma collected their second feature victory in the Cruiser class Saturday, May 9, at the Grays Harbor County Fairgrounds in Elma.

Crawford and Hurd took the lead on lap-3 and did not face much of a challenge from there on out. They took the checkers, followed by J.D. Boling and Ted Warner who took second. Tad Smith and Sparkin Heimer were third, with Brad Crawford and Mike Crawford fourth and Dana Austin and James Hinckley rounding out the top-five.

Bulldog fastpitch No. 1 in league
MONTESANO — With a pair of victories over Rochester (10-1 and 18-0), Montesano completed the season unbeaten in 1A Evergreen League play Friday, May 8, at Crait Field. Aubree Pocklington provided much of the pop for Montesano as she drove in five runs over the two games. Teammates Tori Erickson and Michaela Ecklund each delivered three RBIs, while Erica and Brooke Rydman, along with Rachelle Ridout had two RBIs for the day.