Harper Creek projects smaller shortfall; administration proposes nine position reductions via attrition

The Harper Creek Community Schools Board of Education on May 12 was presented with a revised budget outlook showing a materially improved position for the current year, but administrators proposed a set of staffing and expenditure reductions to address an estimated $750,000 gap for the 2025–26 fiscal year.

Finance reports: why it matters

Missus Obermeyer, the district finance lead, told the board that two state payments not included in the February revision — a $220,000 enrollment-stabilization payment and a $230,000 prior-year special-education adjustment — together improved the district's near-term revenue by about $450,000. She said those and other updates put the district on a path that could produce a roughly 12.7% fund balance under the current assumptions.

What administration proposed

To address remaining shortfalls in the draft 2025–26 budget, administration recommended an initial package of reductions that rely mainly on attrition and position eliminations rather than layoffs. The package described by administration includes nine positions to be removed through attrition: three high-school certified positions (family and consumer science, technology and art), two elementary classroom positions tied to low enrollment at Sonoma, several general-funded paraprofessional positions that will be consolidated rather than refilled, and one additional high-school paraprofessional reduction. Staff emphasized that these steps are intended as non-disciplinary staffing adjustments contingent on actual attrition and final revenue figures.

Revenue and spending assumptions

Obermeyer said the draft budget uses a foundation allowance assumption of $10,000 per pupil and builds next year on a working enrollment estimate of 2,710 full-time-equivalent students (this year's spring count was 2,713). She said insurance costs were modeled at an 8.5% increase (though recent legislation released a 2.9% hard-cap figure), and the draft includes a $330,000 transportation grant that currently appears in statewide budget proposals but could be one-time.

Board-level context and next steps

Board members and administration framed the proposed reductions as an initial step; administrators said they would not issue layoff notices as part of this attrition-based plan. Ridgeway and finance staff said they would finalize assumptions and present a formal budget in June, including a public budget hearing on the fourth Friday in June. Administrators also noted there are at least six weeks to revise the plan if revenue projections change.

Clarifying details

- Enrollment assumption used for next year: 2,710 FTE (spring count 2,713). - Unexpected revenue received after February: $220,000 (enrollment stabilization) + $230,000 (prior-year special-education adjustment) = $450,000. - Draft deficit after proposed adjustments: approximately $750,000. - Proposed staffing reductions by attrition: nine positions (3 HS certificated positions, 2 elementary classroom positions, reductions in general-funded paraprofessionals, 1 additional HS paraprofessional). - Major budget assumptions: $10,000 foundation allowance; insurance modeled at 8.5% increase; $330,000 transportation grant included but may be one-time.

What the board decided

No final layoffs were approved. Administration was directed to finalize the June budget based on these assumptions and return to the board with the complete proposed adoption schedule and any additional adjustments if revenue projections change.

Ending note

Board and staff described the package as an early, conservative plan intended to avoid involuntary separations where possible while protecting the district's fund balance and classroom operations pending final state revenue figures.