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Board hears staffing and class‑size report as high‑school enrollment falls short of projections
Summary
Administrators presented a resource and class‑size report showing a three‑year decline at the high school (129 fewer students than prior), a staffing reduction of roughly 6 FTE at the high‑school level, and an immediate enrollment shortfall of about 75 students relative to budget projections.
North Bend administrators told the school board on Nov. 13 that enrollment declines — concentrated at the high‑school level — have required staffing adjustments but that the district can meet this year’s commitments without mid‑year layoffs.
The resource presentation showed a three‑year downward trend at the high school totaling about 129 students. Administrators said the district made staffing adjustments at the start of the year that reduced high‑school staffing by roughly 6 full‑time equivalent positions; those reductions included ELA, math, science and elective periods. “We made these staffing changes expecting 682 students to be at the high school, and we are 75 short,” the superintendent said, adding that the shortfall translates to roughly $11,500 of state school‑fund revenue per missing student.
District staff reported a year‑to‑date substitute billing rate of about 96 percent and said recruiting and expanding the substitute pool has been a district priority. The presentation included building‑level breakouts showing that class‑size averages rose in some subject areas (for example ELA averages increased modestly at the high school) while the range of class sizes widened — producing some classes in the low teens and others above 30.
Administrators described steps already taken and planned to smooth inequities: rebalancing course sections for next semester, sharing staff between buildings where feasible, and continuing listening sessions with teachers to address behavioral and scheduling impacts. The board asked for additional analysis on where withdrawing students are going and other drivers of the decline; administration said it tracks most student withdrawals and will provide more local data.
Budget impact and outlook: administration said that because the district has been fiscally prudent it does not expect immediate staff layoffs this year, but signaled that sustained enrollment declines will require ongoing adjustments and that the district is planning for a range of state budget scenarios.
