More cuts for Richland schools. These positions are being eliminated next year
The Richland School District already has begun slashing positions for next year, eliminating some nurses and librarians as part of its budget crises.
The district announced Monday it is cutting six nurse positions and will move professional educators currently serving as librarians in middle schools and high schools into classroom teaching roles.
The Tri-City Herald also learned that the district’s executive director of operations will be laid off at the end of this school year. Richard Krasner has served in that position eight years.
It’s part of a long-term plan by Superintendent Shelley Redinger to trim spending and the total number of administrators at the district office.
“We are making strategic decisions that allow us to sustain strong, student-centered services while being thoughtful stewards of public funds,” Redinger said in a provided statement on Monday. “Our focus remains on ensuring that every student has access to the support they need to thrive.”
Actual expenditures exceeded revenues by $6.5 million in 2022-23, and again by $1.5 million in 2023-24.
In addition to increased costs for materials and operations, insurance, special education services, transportation and other line items, Richland’s annual state match revenue for having an active levy dropped by $10 million as property values in the district skyrocketed.
The spending woes came to a head in the fall after district leaders realized its general budget reserves were forecasted to dip below half a million dollars by July 2025.
Richland has a goal to rebuild those reserves back up to a 5% balance, or roughly $12 million, by the 2027-28 school year.
To rebound, the district has already made several millions of dollars worth of cuts to programs and vacant positions this school year.
In February, Richland administrators identified $3.8 million in cuts that could be used as a baseline for 2025-26 school year “Phase 2” reductions.
That included nearly $950,000 slashed in staffing, although it’s unclear if the cuts announced Monday are included in that figure.
“These decisions were not made lightly, and we recognize the impact they may have on staff and school communities,” the announcement said. “However, they are necessary steps to ensure long-term sustainability while continuing necessary student support.”
Health service cuts
The district argues cutting six nurses will return staffing closer to pre-pandemic levels since additional positions were added during the COVID pandemic to meet health demands.
But the announcement says more staff might be added in the future to meet demand and student needs.
“Student health and safety remains a top priority,” the district said in its announcement.
“All health rooms will continue to be staffed by trained health room paraprofessionals, and our certified school nurses will continue to provide oversight and specialized care as needed,” it said.
Data from the 2023-24 school year shows Richland School District employed about 16 nurses. During the 2018-19 that number was about 10.
Librarian services slashed
District staff say a new “oversight model” of library services will be implemented at its six middle and high schools for the 2025-26 school year.
But library services will not be affected at Richland’s 11 elementary school sites, they said.
A “district-level certified librarian” will oversee all comprehensive middle and high school libraries.
As part of the change, the affected librarians will move to classrooms, although it’s unclear if they’ll be teachers or paraeducators.
Again, the district says it will consider adding staff to meet student needs and demands, as needed.
“Secondary libraries will remain open and staffed with trained paraprofessionals who will continue to support students with their academic needs,” the announcement said.
Chromebooks technical support will be available through the IT department. Hours at secondary school libraries also will be expanded to 6:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
