Liberty board approves 4 FTE reductions and a conditional package of stipend changes; pauses MAG and math-specialist stipends

The Liberty Elementary School District Governing Board voted on April 13 to approve a set of preliminary FY27 budget actions designed to reduce projected shortfalls.

After an extended public discussion and multiple requests for more detailed line-item calculations, the board approved a motion to: reduce four full-time equivalent (FTE) positions district-wide, remove June benefits for departing employees pending confirmation from district counsel on legality, and approve several stipend categories (teacher stipends, endorsements, bilingual and other stipends) while excluding or pausing the MAG teacher stipend and the math-specialist stipend for further review. The motion passed 3-0.

Board members debated the likely savings from various options and asked administration to provide disaggregated, concrete numbers for proposed reductions that currently rely on estimates. Board member Zimmerman and others noted that some changes (for example, eliminating permanent guest teachers) will not yield a dollar-for-dollar savings because the district may need to hire substitutes; principals reported a higher substitute fill rate this year after contracting with Educational Services Inc. (ESI).

The approved package included direction to business services to return with precise account reconciliations and to legal counsel to confirm whether removing June benefits is permissible under current employment and benefits agreements. Board members also requested additional follow-up items for future agendas: details on CHAMPS staffing formulas, assistant-principal thresholds, project-momentum fund expenditures, and SPED staffing.

District staff said they will bring updated, disaggregated numbers to the board at a follow-up meeting so members can finalize FY27 reductions with full data.