Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Leavenworth board approves $1.5 million reduction package, opts to move 5th grade and freeze hiring after heated debate
Summary
After hours of discussion and public comment, the Leavenworth Unified School District board voted to adopt a package of budget reductions that includes moving fifth graders into elementary schools, implementing a hiring freeze and related facility realignments intended to save about $1.5 million this fiscal year.
The Leavenworth Unified School District Board of Education voted Feb. 9 to adopt a budget reduction package intended to close an estimated $1.5 million gap for the coming fiscal year.
Superintendent Dr. Helen Adams framed the decision as the result of declining enrollment and rising costs. Adams said the district has seen enrollment fall from about 3,900 students a decade ago toward a projected drop below 3,000 and faces mounting expenses for insurance, utilities and personnel. The board packet presented a range of options; the board ultimately approved the option described in the materials as moving fifth grade into elementary schools and implementing a hiring freeze (decision pathway labeled “option 5” in the board materials).
Adams warned that many figures remain estimates: she described the district’s projected increased expenses as “2.55” in the presentation and told trustees some numbers (for example…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
