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Fountain Hills board approves up to $1.4 million in budget cuts and authorizes staff reductions
Summary
The Fountain Hills Unified School District board voted to approve a budget-reduction plan of up to $1.4 million for 2026–27 and authorized administration to begin reductions in force for certified staff, with legal review and placement efforts to follow.
The Fountain Hills Unified School District Governing Board on Wednesday approved an administration plan to reduce the district’s 2026–27 budget by up to $1.4 million and authorized the start of staff reductions in force for certified employees.
Superintendent Dr. Council told the board the reduction figure reflects the plan presented at an earlier meeting and that administration would return to the board if further reductions were required. "I'm asking for the approval of up to the 1.4 million that I brought to you," Dr. Council said, asking the board to authorize the process while preserving the ability to adjust if necessary.
Following the budget authorization, administration said six certified reductions will be required to meet targets. Five positions have been identified and either have been or will be communicated to affected employees; one position remains to be determined pending additional factors. The superintendent described the process as following board policy and regulation, which requires evaluating certificates, district needs beyond classroom assignments, and other non-seniority criteria.
The board heard that the district’s attorneys reviewed the recommended process. "We did check all of our process with Dave and Don, both attorneys, to make sure that we had done everything correctly," the superintendent said. Board members emphasized the goal of placing affected employees into vacancies where possible and noted past practice of reoffering positions when openings occur.
Board members voted by voice to approve both the budget-reduction authorization and the administration’s recommendations to begin the reduction-in-force process. The transcript records voice approval; no roll-call tally was included in the minutes presented at the meeting.
What happens next: administration will continue the RIF process under board policy, offer placement where possible, and bring any further reductions or reinstatements back to the board for action.
