Board rejects full Exhibit A workforce package, approves resignations and retirements; layoffs blocked

On May 20 the board considered Human Resources Exhibit A, a package of personnel recommendations the administration presented as part of the district's budget balancing work. The board voted down approval of the full Exhibit A but later approved a subset of items limited to resignations, retirements and support staff recommendations.

Board discussion was lengthy and sometimes emotional. Superintendent Doctor Garrison told members that the Exhibit A package reflected prior guidance to present a balanced budget and that the recommended economic layoffs were proposed as part of a plan that would allow the district to present a balanced budget by June. Several board members said they had not been asked to identify specific positions to be preserved and were reluctant to approve broad layoffs that would affect classroom and student supports. Other trustees said the administration had followed the board's direction to present options to close the gap and that failing those recommendations would make a balanced budget difficult to achieve on the current timeline.

A roll call on the motion to approve Exhibit A failed. Later, the board approved a motion to accept the listed resignations, retirements and support recommendations (vote recorded as carried 4–2 with one member recorded as absent at that roll call). The board and superintendent noted that economically driven layoffs could be revisited if state funding changed; the administration said that economic layoff status allows for rehiring if funds become available.

Ending: The board rejected the broader Exhibit A package but approved separable personnel items; the district said it will continue budget work and will return with next steps in light of the vote.