Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the District Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Jordan Public School District board approves staffing reductions after budget review
Summary
At its March 9 meeting the Jordan Public School District board voted unanimously to approve a resolution discontinuing and reducing programs that will eliminate a middle school Spanish teacher position and target $117,000–$272,000 in budget adjustments as administrators warn of rising costs and modest projected overspends.
The Jordan Public School District board voted unanimously on March 9 to adopt a resolution to reduce educational programs and positions after administrators presented the district’s latest budget projections.
Administrators Amy Herman and Renee reviewed the district’s general fund, noting that restricted funds and unassigned balances operate differently. District policy sets an unassigned fund-balance goal of 12 percent; administrators said the district’s unassigned balance currently sits at about 11.83 percent and is projected to reach roughly 12.5 percent by June 30, 2026. Those projections incorporate expected revenues of about $26.16 million and general-fund expenditures near $26.94 million, producing a modest projected overspend of about $31,516 for the current fiscal year.
“Most of our dollars — about 83 percent — come from state aid,” Amy Herman said during the presentation, summarizing revenue sources and outlining drivers of increased costs, including inflationary pressures, settled contracts, and several state-mandated programs that the district said have been underfunded.
After the presentation, board members pressed administrators on timing and impact. A board member asked whether the projected $31,516 overspend would affect the district’s reserve target; administrators replied the apparent discrepancy is explained by restricted fund usage and that the projected unassigned fund-balance percent accounts for those restricted dollars.
The resolution approved by the board directs the administration to discontinue 1.0 FTE middle school Spanish teacher and implement staffing adjustments that include a $17,000 realignment tied to electives and stipend changes. The resolution also authorizes hiring freezes through attrition, with a total reduction target range of $117,000 to $272,000 depending on attrition and other variables.
Board members voted by roll call; the motion carried with all six members voting yes.
Administrators said the budget process remains dynamic: a revised budget for the current year will be presented in June, and FY2026–27 projections will be refined as enrollment, insurance renewals and transportation contract rates become final. They added that decisions on staffing reductions will honor statutory notice deadlines and that any licensed staff reductions would be made before June 30 according to the timeline the administration outlined.
What’s next: administrators will return with the revised numbers in June and will pursue attrition-based reductions first, seeking to minimize impacts on core programming and class sizes. The board asked administration to continue monitoring legislative developments that could alter the district’s fiscal position, including proposals affecting special education funding.
