Yakima parents, staff and students decry cuts, librarian removals and administrator reassignments

Yakima School District trustees heard more than an hour of public comment Tuesday from teachers, parents, students and union leaders who said recent reductions in force (RIFs), cuts to librarian positions and multiple administrator reassignments are damaging student services and school stability.

Speakers from several schools tied the cuts and moves to declining morale and interrupted instructional work. "If you keep ignoring them, you are turning your back on the people you were elected and appointed to represent," teacher Justin Nicholas told the board during public comment, referring to staff and families affected by the changes.

The California-based or centralized staffing changes discussed at the meeting included eliminating many elementary librarian positions while keeping most middle- and high-school librarians, and reassigning principals and assistant principals among several buildings. Several speakers said the moves had already…