Camas district details staff reductions as community urges preservation of music and arts

Superintendent John Anzalone told the Camas School District Board of Directors on April 28 that declining enrollment left the district facing a roughly 10–12% shortfall and that staff reductions are underway as part of a multi‑phase budget strategy.

Anzalone said the district is ‘‘utilizing our reserve fund’’ and moving through a three‑phase approach to reductions, starting with central office, then certificated staff, then PSE/PSE and KOP positions. "They really simply put our declining enrollment," he said, describing the forces behind the cuts. He told the board the district has reduced several central‑office positions and, "per the CCA collective bargaining agreement, we did, reduce 39 provisional certificated staff," and that HR is running a seniority‑based process to place displaced employees where possible.

The reductions prompted an extended public comment period. Nineteen speakers — parents, students, teachers and alumni — told the board that music, choir, band, jazz ensemble, drama and related electives are essential to student well‑being, academic engagement and a sense of belonging. Students repeatedly said programs had helped them find friends, gain confidence and improve mental health; one student, Josie Cotter, said, "Theater has saved my life." Parents and teachers described high performance levels across elementary, middle and high school music programs and warned reductions would damage recruitment, community reputation and long‑term student outcomes.

Why it matters: district leaders said the shortfall stems primarily from enrollment declines and macroeconomic forces such as housing and interest rates, not from one‑time local choices. Anzalone told the board the district’s enrollment as of April 15 was about 6,890 full‑time equivalents — up 48 since October but still below the budgeted projection — and that keeping programs while balancing the budget has required central office cuts and reductions in classroom FTE. "By doing this, it's mitigated to a point how deep we've had to go with other cuts," he said of central‑office reductions. He added that the goal is to balance the budget in August but that borrowing may be necessary.

Details and district responses: the district said it reduced some teachers’ assigned FTE rather than eliminating the positions or programs entirely in order to preserve program access. For music specifically, Anzalone said the district "has been able to maintain our music programs" but that the FTE for several music staff was reduced (for example, a 1.0 role reduced to 0.8), shrinking the number of sections available. For some secondary offerings the district targeted courses with historical average enrollments under 30 students to reduce sections; classes consistently above 30 were left intact. The superintendent said staff will pursue options such as offering jazz band as a club with a stipend if bargaining allows.

Several speakers urged alternatives to program reductions, said reductions would disproportionately affect students who rely on school programs for access to the arts, and warned veteran music educators might leave if contracts and pay were cut. Teacher Eric Edmonson said reducing performing‑arts access would remove hands‑on opportunities where students build public speaking, leadership and social skills. Parent and former student speakers said music programs had supported students through post‑pandemic mental‑health challenges.

What the board directed or decided: board members and staff repeatedly emphasized following collective‑bargaining rules and seniority in the placement process, and the superintendent said HR aimed to complete placements for those who can be reassigned within a week or two. No formal vote on program eliminations occurred; the public comment and the superintendent’s staff reductions report were part of the regular agenda and informational updates. Separately, the board approved unrelated consent agenda items, a student telecommunication policy, graduation dates and a facilities equipment purchase (see "Votes at a glance").

Context and next steps: district leaders said the final list of employees who will be displaced for next fall will depend on enrollment, results of bargaining and any additional legislative funding. The district also encouraged community members to follow contract negotiations on the district’s labor relations page and said it will continue to explore schedule and staffing options at building and program levels.

Ending: board members acknowledged the intensity of public feeling and thanked speakers. The superintendent and staff said they will continue to work with the Camas Education Association (CEA), building principals and HR to complete the redeployment process and to explore options that might restore program hours if enrollment or funding improves.