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MOUNT VERNON — School libraries may feel much of the pain as the Mount Vernon School District struggles to cut $1 million from its 2008-2009 budget.

Librarians in the district face the “lion’s share” of the cuts — more than a third of the total $1 million reduction, said Cathy Pfahl, librarian for Mount Vernon High School.

The cuts aren’t a done deal. School Board members will talk about the 2008-2009 budget during meetings Tuesday and Wednesday. The earliest the board will vote on the budget is June 25.

The fallout from the proposed cuts will be immediately obvious to students, Pfahl wrote in a letter to library supporters. At the high school, an hour-and-a-half of library time will be cut from the day, based on Pfahl’s estimations. The library could also be closed during many lunch periods. Drop-in students during school hours will also not be allowed unless there is no class in the library, Pfahl wrote.

“Elementary libraries are in worse condition,” she said Thursday. “One librarian will cover three libraries. The rest of the time, there will be clerical help running it.”

Mount Vernon isn’t alone. School districts statewide face record budget cuts this year as a combination of higher fuel and food costs and state mandated raises for staff.

Teachers and the librarians don’t want to take the changes lying down. They plan to attend the district’s next budget meeting in force to forestall the budget cuts.

The cuts mean the demise of a popular weekly program at Mount Vernon High School, the Brown Bag Concerts in the library. The concerts, started by Pfahl nine years ago, have served as a stage for student talent from stand-up comics to bands.

At lunchtime Friday, the Black and Blues Band entertained the crowd of students, teachers and lunch ladies. Nearly three years ago to the day, the band debuted at the library, said drummer Kyle Eaton, a 2007 Mount Vernon grad.

“This has been a great opportunity. It’s something I’ll remember forever,” Eaton said.

Students get used to attending the brown bags, which traditionally have been held on Tuesdays. Performers could sign up to play and have a crowd waiting for them, Eaton said.

“It’s really unfortunate,” he said . “I know all of the other libraries are going to be struggling and have to cut some people. It’s a bad situation all around.”

Lead singer and guitarist Chris Eger, a 2005 graduate, said every student will feel the pinch.

“Libraries are a very important part of the school system,” Eger said. “The cuts are going to hurt bad.”

School officials don’t deny that’s true. School Board member Rob Coffey said many proposed cuts will affect student learning.

Along with librarian cuts, kindergarten students at Jefferson, Lincoln and Little Mountain elementaries will see less class time when midday bus runs are eliminated and their half-day classes are consolidated into full-day classes every other day.

“This is the first time we’ve really had to propose cutting into essential education offerings,” Coffey said. “There is less revenue available for what is valuable in education.”

Last session, the state Legislature approved about $4 per student to maintain library funding. The money was meant as a supplement — not a replacement for current funding.

But Superintendent Carl Bruner said that money amounts to less than $30,000 for the district and will be used to supplement library collections, which have suffered lately as building budgets dwindle.

Other proposed cuts include reductions in custodial hours, teacher aide hours, administrative services and bus routes.

“We don’t like being in the position that we’re in,” Bruner said. “At the same time, we put a lot of thought and effort behind trying to identify some solutions that we thought made sense, at least on some level.”

High school junior Zephyr Berger said schools seem to be targeting programs that don’t affect student test results.

“It’s going to be a really sad day when reading, writing and arithmetic is the only thing we care about in school,” he said.

Madison Elementary librarian Sharon Sackett has seniority, so her position won’t be eliminated. But she would rather leave her post than manage the libraries next year. She would have to travel between three elementary school libraries and manage secretaries at each post.

“You’d never feel like you have a home, and I’m not sure if kids would respect your position,” Sackett said.

She has clearly made the Madison library her home. She pointed out a basketball-sized paper wasp nest on the wall that came from a neighbor’s yard and to the bins of bones she’s collected on hikes. She gathered each element to help students understand their world.

“Kids need these opportunities,” Sackett said. “A lot of these kids hardly get out of our neighborhood.”

• Kate Martin can be reached at 360-416-2145 or at .


ON THE AGENDA

What: Mount Vernon School Board work sessions to discuss the 2008-2009 budget

When: Two days, 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday

Where: Mount Vernon High School New Main Library, 314 N. Ninth St.

Why: Board members and school officials will discuss budget cuts and additions for the coming school year.