Bend-La Pine’s School Board has approved a nearly 260-million-dollar budget, as district leaders work to manage long-term funding pressure.

Superintendent Dr. Steven Cook says the district used about 9-million dollars in reserves last year to help finance education on a roughly 250-million-dollar budget. He says the new plan brings spending closer in line with available funding, while avoiding deeper staffing cuts.

Cook says the district trimmed 7-million dollars without eliminating jobs.

Bend-La Pine Schools employs about 2,000 people across 33 schools and departments, making it Deschutes County’s second-largest employer.