With Thursday’s announcement that the state budget deficit forecast is now up to $9 billion, there is also troubling news for the Lake Washington School District.

Superintendent Dr. Chip Kimball’s original estimate of a $5 million cut for the district budget has gone up to $10 million, according to LWSD communications director Kathryn Reith.

“These cuts will be serious,” said Reith. “The state House and Senate are expected to announce their proposed budgets next week. We will know much more about what the exact impact will be on our district, once we see those documents.”

As school district officials brace for the projected shortfall in state funding, Juanita High School’s swimming pool is on a budget-cutting shortlist.

In 2006, the last time that the district faced significant budget cuts, a committee consisting of community members, parents, teachers and administrators developed a budget decision screen. This screen has been used since then in determining where adjustments should be made in each school year’s budget.

The district has extended the time for community members to participate in an online budget survey at www.lwsd.org.

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