On a night when they considered cutting 27 teaching jobs and reducing several programs, Cotati-Rohnert Park school board members decided Tuesday to keep Technology High School on the Sonoma State University campus.

Board members unanimously took the action, enthusiastically supported by the school's students and parents.

The decision came even as the board discussed $2.9 million in recommended cuts next year from a budget of about $51 million.

Those cuts, if adopted, would eliminate the district's elementary music program, reduce the high school athletic budget by 25 percent and drop middle school sports.

The list of recommended cuts also includes reducing the number of administrators, clerical staff and counselors at various schools. Rancho Cotate High and Mountain Shadows Middle School each would lose a librarian. A nurse position also would be cut.

The district is looking at its fourth year of budget cuts, in part due to declining student enrollment and the related loss of state revenue. District enrollment has dropped to about 7,500 students this year from about 8,300 four years ago. The state provides about $4,650 per student this year.

In an effort to balance the budget, school administrators proposed moving Technology High School out of the university's Salazar Hall, then leasing the school's space back to the university at up to $250,000 a year for three years.

The university is looking for space as it begins its $26 million renovation of Darwin Hall, but university spokeswoman Susan Kashack emphasized before Tuesday's meeting that university officials want the high school to remain on campus.

About 200 people attended Tuesday's meeting. Tech High parents and students urged the board to allow the school to stay on the university campus.

They reported on their recent efforts to put a parcel tax on the November ballot and to increase the number of students who transfer in to Tech High. They said they already have raised $31,500 in donations.

Jonathan Monroe, the school's student body president, said the fund-raising efforts will generate as much money as would be obtained by moving the high school.

Board members agreed that the school should remain at the university. But they noted Tech High may face budget cuts and might continue to have some of its classes taught at Rancho Cotate High.

During the discussion on balancing the budget, district officials said they hope that many of the teaching positions to be lost will be eliminated through a retirement incentive program.

Board members questioned virtually all 36 items on the list of proposed cuts.

Board member Ed Gilardi noted that cuts to athletics were "hot button items" in the community and wondered whether it would be possible that coaches might volunteer their services.

He also wanted more information on a proposal to save $100,000 by having one principal in charge of two yet-to-be-named elementary schools.

Board member Eric Kirchman questioned the wisdom of eliminating the district's program for struggling readers. The district would save an estimated $150,000 next year but "we're going to feel that for years to come," he warned.

Board member Leffler Brown agreed and said the reading program "will be my last choice to cut."