Kaneland board approves 18-person reduction in force and a trimmed minimum staffing plan

The Kaneland Board of Education voted 6-0 to approve resolutions authorizing a reduction in force (RIF) that affects 18 certified staff members and to adopt a minimum staffing plan for 2025–26 that reduces certified full-time equivalents (FTE) from 380.93 to 356.23.

Board members and district administrators framed the action as a programmatic and budget-driven step rather than a response to performance concerns. Dr. Atkins described the reductions as an "honorable reduction in force," saying the district’s choices were driven by curriculum and enrollment changes rather than evaluations. The board voted to send hand-delivered, certified and mailed notices to affected staff the following morning.

The vote comes after the district held a public hearing on the RIF where no public comments were recorded. Dr. Atkins told the board that three of the affected certified staff are in Group 3 of the district’s sequence-of-dismissal list and therefore carry statutory recall rights; first-year teachers do not have recall rights under the law. He also said affected teachers will remain on payroll and benefits through Aug. 31, consistent with the district’s year-round pay schedule.

The minimum staffing plan that passed at the same meeting reflects a combination of programmatic reductions and enrollment-driven cuts. Administrators said the elementary level will see net declines in some grades, middle-school staffing will remain largely flat with a few programmatic reductions, and the high school will experience reductions primarily in MTSS (multi-tiered systems of support), counseling and CTE allocation changes. The plan includes:

- A net certified FTE reduction from 380.93 to 356.23 (a 24.7 FTE reduction in certified staff reported in the administration’s materials and a total FTE reduction of about 34.08 when classified and administrative changes are included). - Three administrative positions reduced (actual dollar amounts used for administrative reductions). - Programmatic reductions that administrators identified as MTSS changes, reductions to some exploratory/PE/critical-thinking sections, and a decline in one KYPLA elementary section driven by enrollment. - A recommendation to increase the social worker position at McDowell from 0.5 FTE to 1.0 FTE (administration stated this will be less costly than continuing to contract a virtual 0.5 FTE social worker and will provide in-person services).

Board members acknowledged the difficulty of the decision. Board member Kleisner said the cuts were “really tough” and thanked administrators for the process; other members echoed appreciation for staff outreach. Dr. Atkins said the district will provide job-placement assistance, referrals and letters of recommendation to displaced staff and will consult the pool of displaced employees if openings arise.

What the board approved was procedural and statutory: the board adopted the resolutions required under the Illinois School Code’s sequence-of-dismissal process and approved the district’s minimum staffing plan as its operational baseline for 2025–26. No contested votes were recorded; roll call showed all six members present voting aye.

The administration said they will monitor enrollment weekly through August and return to the board if additional hires become necessary, and that some classified-staff changes will be addressed in April when those schedules and assignments are finalized.

Ending: The board’s actions set the staffing baseline for next year while preserving recall rights where statute requires them and while directing administrators to continue outreach and placement support for displaced staff. Administrators told the board they will bring any necessary staffing reversals back to the board for approval if enrollment or programmatic needs change.