Lakeland policy committee reviews RIF policy 5740, the scoring form and appeal timelines amid levy shortfall planning

Lakeland District Policy Committee members spent a meeting-length discussion on proposed updates to Reduction in Force policy 5740 and its implementing procedures, focusing on how the district would score certificated employees, notify affected staff and handle appeals if budget cuts trigger a RIF.

The committee reviewed policy language that reads, “Financial emergency must be declared by the board prior to taking any reduction in force actions,” and discussed how a declaration would be limited to one fiscal year unless additional reductions were justified. A staff member reading the draft told the committee the district’s fiscal year runs July 1 to June 30.

Why it matters: committee members and an outside attorney warned that the policy and scoring procedures drive who could lose jobs if a levy fails or the board declares a financial emergency. Amy White, an education attorney in Boise who consults with school districts, told the committee she expects substantial reductions if the district’s projected shortfall materializes: “I do not know how deep your cut will have to go, but understanding we are talking 9 and a half $1,000,000 with approximately 87% of your budget being staffing, I would imagine this is a significant number.”

Committee discussion and directions

Members walked through key elements of the draft policy and an attached scoring form labeled 5740-F. The draft reserves to the board “the sole and exclusive authority to determine the appropriate…