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Fountain Hills school board approves $1.5 million in certified staff reductions, approves reductions‑in‑force
Summary
The Fountain Hills Unified School District board approved a package of certificated budget reductions totaling roughly $1.5 million, including 14.5 certificated FTE reductions (6 at McDowell, 6 at the high school, 2.5 at the middle school). Board members said most affected employees were offered alternate positions within the district.
The Fountain Hills Unified School District governing board on the evening the board approved certificated budget reductions intended to close a roughly $1.5 million budget gap and approved a related reduction‑in‑force action.
District staff told the board the package includes 14.5 certificated positions identified for reduction — 6 positions at McDowell Mountain School, 6 at Fountain Hills High School and 2.5 at the middle school — but that the district had offered reassignment options to most affected employees. “Part of that is there’s a lot of moving parts in those areas,” staff said in presenting the reductions and later added the district had offered most employees alternate positions within the district.
The superintendent‑level presenter told the board the certified contract notices must go out beginning March 15 and that the district had minimized outright layoffs by creating reassignment options. He also directly addressed community concerns about a possible high‑school closure, saying that “that’s not the case at this time” and that any future consideration of closure would be years away and made only after public notice and a clear multi‑year process.
Board members pressed staff on operational details and impacts. One asked whether class sizes would change materially; another pointed to reserve funds and the potential for enrollment shifts to change the district’s needs. Staff replied that class sizes will remain smaller than many districts and that principals are working on schedules; the district retains some reserves for contingencies.
After questions and discussion, a board member moved to approve the recommended budget reductions and the accompanying certificated reduction‑in‑force; the motions carried by voice vote with no roll‑call dissent recorded.
What’s next: staff said principals will return to the board with scheduling updates before the end of the school year, and the district will notify affected certificated employees in accordance with contract timelines.
