The year 2009 has barely started, yet Wickersham School of Discovery already has a stack of kindergarten applications for 2010, 2011 and 2012.

That’s how badly parents want to enroll their kids at the public school in Buckley.

Families with current Wickersham students say their kids thrive at the arts school – and they fear it’s on the brink of closure.

The White River School District is struggling to find $3 million to trim from the upcoming school year budget. Superintendent Tom Lockyer refuses to divulge whether shuttering Wickersham is a possibility, saying only that his administration will present proposed cuts to the School Board on Jan. 28.

Wickersham parents, however, say they’ve heard that plans call for closing Wickersham as an elementary school in order to move Collins Alternative High School programs into its building.

Wickersham supporters have been posting fliers and writing letters to the School Board and newspapers, imploring the district to keep the school open. Some 200 parents packed a PTA meeting Tuesday at Wickersham, where Lockyer spoke in general terms about the shortfall.

“I just don’t think Wickersham could be replaced,” said Alisa Garate, who has a fifth-grader at the school now and a ninth-grader who once went there. When her 3-year-old son was 1, Garate put him on the kindergarten waiting list for 2011.

“Instead of getting rid of Wickersham, they should use the model for the other schools,” she said.

White River faces the double whammy of declining state funding, based on Gov. Chris Gregoire’s budget recommendation, and declining enrollment, which means even less state money distributed on a per-pupil basis.

Districtwide enrollment has fallen by 230 students since the 2005-06 school year, Lockyer said. This school year alone, the district is 66 students below the 4,126 it had projected for its budget.

Lockyer suspects the weak economy is driving down student numbers in Buckley, a plateau bedroom community for commuters to Seattle, Tacoma and the Interstate 5 corridor.

“Though we appreciate all of our buildings and the work they’re doing, I have to look at issues from the perspective of the needs of all 4,000 kids,” he said.

Wickersham opened in fall 2000 as a “choice school” where children apply for limited slots.

The 226-student school integrates the arts into academic subjects and practices “progressive learning,” meaning teachers tailor instruction to students’ abilities. It’s the only district elementary school with an art teacher.

Parents note that Wickersham has the district’s highest test scores.

On Thursday, the school held one of its “Discovery Days,” with engaging hands-on activities centered on a theme.

“It inspires them to do more reading,” Principal Carolyn Rembert said.

To help with the day’s American Indian focus, 16 members of White River High School’s Native American Club acted out traditional Indian tales for the youngsters, made fry bread for them and taught them how to string pony beads. Artist in residence Janice Wagner showed kids how to make a print of a Northwest animal symbolizing earth, water, air or fire.

The school’s strong parent involvement helps make events such as Discovery Days possible, said PTA President Teresa Meyer.

Parents are encouraged to volunteer five hours a month, but many put in far more – the school averages 500 to 600 volunteer hours a month. The librarian is a parent volunteer.

The family involvement and nurturing staff create a sense of community, said parent Brian Lenz.

“I’ve seen fifth-graders run to every teacher and get a hug,” he said. “The teachers are part of everyone’s family. They care about what they’re doing.”

Second-grader Shirley Gunderson called Wickersham “awesome.”

There were nods of agreement from kindergartner Ella Wyrwitzke, clutching a beaded gecko she strung, and first-grader Daylon Reichl, munching on a tortilla he helped make.

“The math is awesome,” Shirley said. “The reason it’s entertaining is they have so much things planned for you. It’s fun.”

Debby Abe: 253-597-8694