Baker to leave school district

Sisters School Superintendent Dr. Lynn Baker announced Monday night, April 12, that he will leave the Sisters School District at the end of his one-year interim contract in June.

Baker is foregoing an additional two-year contract signed with the district earlier this year.

"When I came to Sisters in July (2003), I planned to stay one year," Baker told the school board in a prepared statement. "It seemed at one time that a longer stay might be in order, but events of this past year have caused me to re-think my continued stay in Sisters."

Baker said, "I've reviewed my professional and personal priorities and determined that it is better for my family and I to make this decision."

School board chairman Glen Lasken thanked Baker for his service to the district and wished him well in his future career.

In other news, the schools' budget picture brightened somewhat.

In a report to the board and budget committee, the district's financial manager Diane Shelly said that the district can expect extra state funding from rising enrollment and approximately $100,000 in additional funding from the High Desert Educational Service District (ESD).

The regional ESD is getting a boost in funding next year in a state-wide effort to create equity among the agencies that supply services to school districts.

The additional funds will reduce the district's financial shortfall to $300,000 to $400,000 from the $600,000 estimated just a week ago.

School staff and Superintendent Baker presented to the budget committee a proposed 2004-05 budget of $8,569,436, which is almost the same as the current year's budget.

The budget anticipates cuts in days of instruction and/or reductions in staff.