Columbia Elementary School

Participants in the Saturday protest at Washington Park carried signs with messages such as “Only Fools Close Schools,” and “Which School Is Next?”

The district is holding a job fare for bus drivers next Saturday as it prepares for a wave of driver retirements and requests for leave.

The district will save $3 million in staffing costs with the closure, which is being done as the district looks to cut $8.6 million from its budget.

The district is now dealing with rising staffing costs, declining enrollment and inflation, and plans to cut $8.6 million from its budget.

The group says there was a lack of community involvement in the decision to close the school.

This workshop is for district staff to present an analysis of the proposed closure of Columbia Elementary and budget reduction plans for the next school year

District spokesperson Diana Haglund says the meetings are being held as required by state law and school board policy.

Hawkins says the closure is a reasonable step if the school district is in a budget crunch.

Wenatchee schools limited attendance at the meeting to 120 people, citing fire code concerns.

The district made the announcement Saturday after meeting with Columbia Elementary staff Friday.