Staff cuts coming as Puyallup School District addresses ‘unsustainable’ financial situation
The Puyallup School District’s school board voted Monday night to cut staff in administration and possibly in educational programs.
“Our current financial situation is unsustainable,” board president Kathy Yang told The Herald. “We can’t sit back and wait to see how things unfold.”
This school year, the district revenues are expected to be $310 million, according to the district. Staff estimates the district will spend $323 million, tapping into fund balance reserves for $13.4 million.
The district’s fund balance is on track to go into deficit in years to come if current spending levels continue, said Vince Pecchia, the district’s top administrator until the next superintendent starts.
“That’s not something we are going to do,” Pecchia said of going into deficit.
The passed resolution directs Pecchia to make a minimum of eight full-time staff reductions in the administrative office and educational programs. The legislation allows for restructuring and reduction of “non-represented administrative staffing, classified staffing, certificated staffing, and educational programs or offerings.”
Pecchia said it’s too early to tell how many positions will be cut, which departments they will be from or when staff will be let go. He is expected to take a few months to talk to district leaders, principals and teachers to determine inefficiencies.
Cuts could include extracurricular programs. It’s too premature to tell which extracurriculars they would consider, Pecchia said.
“We’re looking for any overlap of work that we can consider reducing that still provides the same level of service but not the same number of dollars attached to it,” he said.
The district is trying to make cuts without laying off teachers, Yang said. This school year, teachers were concerned at early projected class sizes reaching over 55.
“We’re saying, ‘Hey, where can we make changes to be more efficient?’ And right now our priority is to preserve classrooms,” Yang said. “We are going to work hard to make the class size smaller.”
The Puyallup School District has 23,000 students. Of Pierce County’s 15 districts, PSD is the seventh fastest-growing. Stretching resources and staff for a growing student population has been difficult, Pecchia said.
“That’s the challenge,” he said. “That goes back to the state funding that has inequities. It’s all about maximizing as best we can, while filling a deficit and providing a great educational experience for our students, because they deserve it.”
The staff reduction recommendations are expected to be brought before the board for a final decision in coming months.
