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Board approves layoffs and furloughs as administration outlines $3.9 million shortfall for 2025–26
Summary
The L'Anse Creuse Public Schools Board approved a layoff resolution and other personnel measures as administration presented a projected $3.9 million shortfall for the 2025–26 general fund budget and described prior cuts and remaining risks.
The L'Anse Creuse Public Schools Board of Education voted Tuesday to approve a layoff resolution and a package of personnel measures after district administrators described persistent revenue uncertainty and a projected operating shortfall for the coming fiscal year.
Superintendent Keith Howell and Kathy (last name not specified in transcript), the district's business officer, described the district's fiscal position at length. Kathy said the district expects to close fiscal 2024–25 with an estimated shortfall carried forward and projects a $3.9 million deficit for 2025–26 under current assumptions, driven in part by retirement-rate changes, grant declines and a projected drop in state per-pupil revenue. The business office reported a projected 24–25 close with a net decrease near $6.9 million from earlier projections and noted that the district had implemented roughly $7.5 million in cuts earlier in the process.
After discussion, the board approved a layoff resolution and related labor- and contract-level measures. The board also approved non-affiliated contract terms and a resolution implementing furlough days for certain non-union employees. Board members described the vote as difficult; several said they had weighed the personal impact on employees. Board member Jason Sellers said the item was among the hardest votes he had taken while on the board.
Clerical staff and media tech clerks were specifically mentioned in public comment as being displaced or reduced. Heather Budznowski, president of the clerical unit and a district technology secretary, outlined names of displaced clerical and media tech employees and described the day-to-day work those staff perform, such as device collection, troubleshooting and summer device processing. Budznowski told the board the district collected roughly 5,305 devices and processed related fines during the end-of-year collection window and asked how the district will perform that work with reduced staffing.
Other speakers connected layoffs to specific programmatic proposals: parents and students raised concerns about proposed reductions in instructional technology staffing (elimination of a second instructional technology coach), choir hours, and other services.
The board voted on the layoff resolution by voice vote; minutes show the motion carried. No roll-call tally of individual yes/no votes was recorded in the meeting transcript excerpt.
Board members and superintendent Howell said they would continue to seek state-level clarity on funding and would monitor revenue changes. Administration indicated it will bring additional details to the board as they become available and will continue to pursue a mix of expense reductions and revenue measures to close the projected gap.
The board took the motion after hearing public comment and a policy and budget presentation. The layoff motion and related personnel actions were approved during the meeting's consent and action sections.
