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Board approves staffing reductions and several personnel resolutions tied to budget realignment
Summary
Trustees approved multiple FY27 budget reductions, including executive admin hour cuts, five custodial position eliminations (6–1), one support‑staff elimination, and termination/nonrenewal of three probationary teachers; five licensed teachers were recalled from proposed ULA.
The Albert Lea School Board approved a series of staffing and budget resolutions intended to reduce district expenditures for fiscal year 2027.
Ashley Madsen read a resolution to reduce two executive administrative assistants from 1.0 FTE (40 hours) to 0.8 FTE (32 hours) effective July 1, 2026; the board approved the reduction by voice.
A separate resolution eliminated five custodial A13 positions districtwide (evening and day custodians at Southwest, Brookside and Albert Lea High School) effective June 30, 2026. Board members asked who would assume the custodial responsibilities after the cuts; administration said it will develop a rotation schedule in coordination with custodial leadership. The motion passed 6–1.
The board also approved elimination of one A13 support‑staff attendance clerk position at Albert Lea High School effective June 30, 2026; administration said the duties would be absorbed through a high‑school office restructure.
As part of staffing realignment tied to declining enrollment, the board approved termination or nonrenewal of three probationary teachers at the close of the 25–26 school year; that resolution passed on a roll‑call vote. In a separate action, trustees approved a resolution recalling five licensed teachers who had been placed on proposed unrequested leave of absence (ULA) in March, allowing those five to continue at 1.0 FTE for 26–27.
Board members expressed concern about service continuity and asked administration to ensure essential work is covered after the eliminations. Administration responded that some duties will be absorbed by remaining staff and that the district will follow master‑agreement recall and layoff procedures.
