This summer the Yakima School District will be offering summer classes at about half as many schools as in past years, but a consolidation plan should allow about the same number of students to be served.

In an effort to "fine tune" the program and cut costs, the school district will offer summer school at 13 buildings instead of 21.

The change will save $500,000 in expenses. Last year it cost the district about $1.3 million to run the 20-day summer school program. The largest chunk of that money came from local levy funds.

The consolidation plan mostly affects staffing -- and could put a pinch in the pocketbook of teachers and other support staff who relied on the extra pay during summer months.

Last year, the district used 432 teachers and other support staff, including administrators. Exactly how many fewer teachers and employees will be needed isn't clear, school district officials say, until they have a better gauge on the number of students who enroll.

"We were looking for ways to better use the money," said Cece Mahre, an associate superintendent who oversees teaching and learning. "We're refining the program, maximizing our resources and working within our budget."

The number of students served is not expected to drastically change.

Last year the district served more than 1,400 students, or about 10 percent of the district's student population, during 90 percent of the summer school days. Just over 3,000 students attended at least one day.

So far, about 1,200 students have been invited to attend summer school, which begins shortly after the 2007-08 academic year ends June 11.

"Its purpose is to help those kids that need to meet the graduation requirements," said Mahre.

With students under pressure to meet state benchmarks, which is mostly measured by standardized tests, public schools have shifted their focus from students seeking to get ahead during the summer to those who need to catch up. At the high school level, summer courses are mostly designed to help students prepare for the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.

The discrepancy in the number of Yakima students who attended at least one day of summer school and those who stuck it out and attended 90 percent of the time is another reason district officials decided to refine the program.

"We're just really tightening up everything," Mahre said.

The cost-cutting plan means the campuses not being used for summer school will go without a building administrator or secretary. Those unused buildings will likely get a rest from being used. Maintenance workers will continue regular summer upkeep, but any necessary repairs would likely be moved up.

Some of those buildings could also be used to house summer training for teachers.

As in past years, the district will continue to provide transportation for students attending summer school.

The schools were chosen based on efforts to align schools with similar curriculum. For example, Barge Lincoln and Garfield elementaries use similar reading curriculum during the regular school year, so district officials decided to not use Garfield and have students from that school attend summer school at Barge-Lincoln.

"We'll see how this works. This is a change," Mahre said.

In future years, Mahre said the district might expand the summer school program to include offerings for students who are on or above grade level.

* James Joyce III can be reached at 577-7675 or jjoyce@yakimaherald.com.