Consultant recommends trimming central-office staff as Canutillo ISD weighs multimillion-dollar shortfall

Canutillo Independent School District — At a March 4 board workshop, consultant Karen Dooley of ASD HR Services presented a limited staffing review that recommended the district consider absorbing several central-office positions through attrition to reduce staffing variances with peer districts.

Dooley said the review used completed questionnaires, virtual interviews with district leaders and peer benchmarking to compare Canutillo ISD’s staffing levels in departments including financial services, communications, technology, human resources, operations and non-campus clerical support. “Benchmarking gives you a good look at yourself,” Dooley said, describing the comparison process.

The report identified specific areas with higher staffing ratios than peers. Dooley recommended absorbing up to two financial-services positions, one communications position, as many as four technology positions and multiple non-campus clerical positions through attrition to move closer to peer averages. She also provided historical staffing comparisons covering six school years and said district program changes — for example, a Montessori program and bond-related positions — affect year-to-year staffing totals.

District administration presented related budget projections at the same meeting.…