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Richfield board approves cuts: 23.25 FTE proposed eliminated and five teachers placed on unrequested leave
Summary
The Richfield Public Schools board voted to approve a resolution discontinuing 23.25 FTE licensed positions for 2026–27 and separately approved a resolution proposing to discontinue teaching contracts and place five continuing‑contract teachers on unrequested leave; administration tied decisions to enrollment and revenue projections.
The Richfield Public Schools board voted on March 16 to approve a resolution discontinuing 23.25 full‑time equivalent (FTE) certified positions for the 2026–27 school year and separately approved a resolution proposing to discontinue teaching contracts and place five continuing‑contract teachers on unrequested leave of absence.
Superintendent Steve Civianski and administration staff told the board these actions are budgetary and driven by enrollment projections, revenue forecasts and program needs. Administration said projections were updated after the October one‑count and adjusted again in February to reflect attrition and anticipated impacts from metro surge.
The discontinuing‑positions resolution identifies subject areas and staffing changes the district plans to eliminate to align the budget and maintain target class‑size ratios; administration said some positions could be restored later in spring if registration or funding changes permit. The board approved the resolution in a roll‑call vote; each member recorded an affirmative vote.
On the teaching‑contracts resolution, administration said March is the required window to propose placement of continuing‑contract teachers on unrequested leave to protect contractual rights and provide notification. Five continuing‑contract teachers were named in the packet as being proposed for unrequested leave; administration emphasized that the actions are budgetary and are not tied to performance evaluations.
Board members expressed regret and acknowledged the difficulty of the decisions. Director Haley Tomkins said the vote was “not easy” and noted the emotional weight of proposing contract actions. Other members emphasized the goal of balancing short‑term reductions with long‑term district health.
Administrators said affected staff will receive required notices and will have rights to seek transfers into other posted positions during the process; nonrenewal and probationary‑teacher decisions will follow the statutory schedule later in the spring.
The board’s actions on staffing will be reflected in the district’s budget and staffing plans for 2026–27 and administrative staff said they will return with further budget updates as more enrollment and funding details become available.
