Officials predominantly blame a lower-than anticipated kindergarten class size for the shortfall.
The board said it would wait until after November's election to make the final decision about whether to close Kings Valley Elementary School, which has 19 students. Ballot measures could so greatly affect the school's budget that the current financial crisis would pale in comparison, said board Chairman David Grube. Regardless of election outcomes, board members did take action to reduce the budget shortfall. The five kindergarten classes at the new Clemens Primary School will be consolidated into four. Also at Clemens, the board eliminated a half-time principal position.