In brief: Spokane schools budget forum tonight
Spokane Public Schools will hold the second of two community budget forums today.
The forum begins at 7 p.m. at Glover Middle School, 2404 W. Longfellow Ave.
District patrons will have the opportunity to ask Superintendent Brian Benzel, school board members and staff questions about proposed budget cuts for next school year.
District officials expect a $10.5 million budget gap next year, and more than $12.3 million in possible reductions has been proposed. The cuts include closing Pratt Elementary School, reducing custodial staff, reducing library staff at elementary schools and eliminating middle school librarians, eliminating freshman sports teams, and other reductions.
Those attending the budget forum will be given a worksheet and asked to prioritize the proposed cuts.
For more information about Spokane’s budget, visit the district’s Web site at www.spokaneschools.org.
– Sara Leaming
Coeur d’Alene
Tuition increase proposed at NIC
North Idaho College students could be paying more for their classes next year under a tuition increase proposal presented at the Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday night.
Tuition would increase by 5.9 percent for in-state students, from $996 per semester to $1,055. Out-of-state students would pay $3,331, a 1.8 percent increase.
The increase should give the college an additional $379,000 per year, assuming enrollment stays flat as is projected, said Rolly Jurgens, NIC’s vice president for administration.
The money would be used to meet increasing operating costs as well as possible salary increases for NIC staff, which had an “extremely small raise” of slightly more than 1 percent for this school year, Jurgens said.
“The issue really is one of competitiveness, fairness to the students and weighing that against what the needs of the campus are,” Jurgens said.
Tuition will still be less than that at neighboring community colleges in Spokane.
“We’re less than their tuition rates are, so we think we’ve got some slack, some headroom in that,” Jurgens said.
Tuition increases at NIC have kept pace with increases at other community colleges in the region, increasing 36 percent since the 2002-03 school year.The board is expected to vote on the proposal at its April 25 meeting.
– Meghann Cuniff
Everybody’s Bazaar moving to N. Idaho
After three years in Spokane, Everybody’s Bazaar & Yard Sale moves to Coeur d’Alene this weekend.
More than 100 vendors will pitch their wares at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds & Event Center on Saturday.
The event is produced by The Spokesman-Review and sponsored by the Kootenai Humane Society and Thrift Store.
The entry fee is $4, free to children under 10. Doors will open at 8 a.m. and close at 4 p.m.
A pullout event guide with seller locations, listings and a discount admission coupon will be published Friday in The Spokesman-Review.
– From staff reports