School board approves 1.8 FTE certified staff reduction; total planned cuts reach 9.8 FTE

The Blaine County School District 61 Board of Trustees voted April 29 to approve a staffing update that reduces certified staff by 1.8 full-time-equivalent positions for the 2025–26 school year.

Superintendent (presenter) told the board the recommendation follows a resignation and additional attrition and is driven by lower enrollment and the ability to combine classes: “We have received another resignation and identified, just through attrition, a couple of more assignments that we do not need to replace for the 25–26 school year.” The superintendent said 0.8 FTE would come from Carey School and 1.0 FTE from the high school.

Board members discussed the update briefly. Trustee Turner clarified the change increases the district’s total planned FTE reductions for the next budget year to 9.8. The superintendent said the cuts “do not reflect a reduction in any programs.”

A motion to approve the staffing update was made and seconded; the board approved the motion by voice vote. The motion did not identify a named mover or seconder in the public record. The board indicated the motion carried without opposition.

The staffing reductions were presented to the board immediately before a work session on the district’s draft 2025–26 financial model. Trustees and staff said the personnel reduction will be folded into the district’s ongoing budget projections and updates to the financial model.

No additional policy actions or program eliminations were approved as part of this motion; the vote covered only the staffing update described above.