The Bellevue School District will cut approximately 60 FTE certificated instructional staff next year because of reductions in the state’s budget.

The reductions will require 28 involuntary transfers, eight at the elementary level and 20 at the sixth through 12th grade level.

The districtwide reductions were reached after determining the number of non-continuing contracts and requests for leave for 2009-2010 school year.

In addition to the 60 FTE certified instructional staff, the district plans to eliminate two central administration positions, a half-time position in Special Education, and reduce eight classified positions.

In order for the district to return to school budget with a five percent reserve over the next few years and meet the obligations of the strike settlement which took place this past fall, it identified a $4.8 million reduction in expenditures for 2008-2009 year and a plan for additional reductions in 2009-2010.

“Since we met last Tuesday (May 5), a group of us have been hard at work, constantly calling principals, checking on staff, classrooms, and student enrollment,” said interim superintendent Karen Clark. “We had to look at how many people will lose their jobs. It was some long days and we did our best.”

Lindsay Larin can be reached at 425.453.4602.