HAUSER - Upon learning The Lighthouse School expects a $100,000 deficit next year, a group of about 22 parents has openly brainstormed with the public charter's administration in hope of solving its budget woes.

Many are suggesting boosting fundraising, searching for grants and asking parents to contribute money monthly - if they can afford it - to keep the public charter school's programs running. Another idea floated at a meeting Tuesday suggested combining upper grades. The Hauser school serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Julianna Seldon, the mother of a sixth-grade student, said she didn't mind mixing grades.

"If that's a way to save some of those other programs, I actually like that idea," Seldon said.

Another parent, Vickie Gray, said blending classes could help older Lighthouse students become more comfortable with schedules similar to those at high schools.

"I just think it would be beneficial to the students ... to prepare them better for high school and get them out of their little box," Gray said.

Considering that the school will be expected to run on 18 percent to 20 percent less money next year, Director Bill Anderson said Lighthouse needs to make reductions. He noted that while some advocated in support of the school's Spanish program, cuts will come from all areas of the Hauser campus, rather than from one specific program.

"Each program provides a piece of the puzzle to educating the whole child," Anderson said.

The $100,000 deficit, Anderson added, could go up or down, depending on new estimates due from the state Friday and again in July.

He explained that while Lighthouse is part of the North Bend School District, it's already on a lean budget because it receives a smaller portion of funding based on student attendance as part of its charter agreement. It picks up approximately 60 percent of the funding, while the district gets about 40. The Lighthouse board currently is re-negotiating its contract with the district.

Alane Jennings, the school's former director and enrollment coordinator, said the district is hurting, too, and withholds funds in part to pay for Lighthouse's space and some district services.

"They're not in any mood to give us more money," Jennings said. "We're not particularly hopeful at this point of getting a higher percentage."

Anderson said the boards are working together and he's appreciative of Superintendent BJ Hollensteiner's communication.

When Seldon asked what parents could do to impact the outcome of negotiations, Jennings suggested she and others write letters to board members reminding them to treat Lighthouse students equitably. Most of the children eventually will attend North Bend High School and their parents are part of the constituency.

"All we really want is to have the same, equitable fair funding," Jennings said.

Jennings said Lighthouse is expecting a slight increase in students next year. However, increased enrollment will not be a cure-all. Lighthouse's mission emphasizes classes of no more than 24 or 25 children and no more than 200 at the school. It has an enrollment of about 175 this year.

"Just adding kids isn't going to solve our problem," Jennings said. "We're going to be smaller next year in some way."

Many of the grades have waiting lists, but the school can take more students in third-, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grades.

Anderson said the school has received several grants, but those are earmarked for projects - not teachers' salaries.

One parent said she'd be willing to pay for her child, and Spanish teacher Tere Munoz said she believed other parents would donate to the 501c3 because "it is the best gig in town."