Pulaski County school board approves staffing allocations and hiring lists as leaders push to stop multi‑year overspending

The Pulaski County Special School District board on March 10 approved a package of staffing and allocation changes administrators said are needed to stop multi‑year budget erosion and bring spending into alignment with rising assessment values.

Administrators presented a line‑by‑line rework of certified and classified positions that they said reduces duplicated administrative posts, aligns assistant principal allocations to current enrollments and cuts positions created when temporary pandemic-era funds became permanent salaries. Dr. Williams, who led the staffing presentation, said the certified and classified adjustments produce pre‑benefit savings of roughly $900,000 and $1.2 million respectively; with benefits included, the district estimates net labor cost reductions in the range of $5.6 million.

“We have got to stop our bleeding,” Chief Financial Officer Miss Guess told the board as she walked members through five years of ending balances and assessment changes. She said the district had experienced four consecutive years of declining ending balances even as assessed value rose, a pattern she linked to spending increases timed to assessment gains.

Superintendent Mr. Sin and other leaders framed the changes as targeted and operational. They said administrators lowered the assistant‑principal allocation ratios to reduce excess posts at secondary schools while preserving extra support in early grades (the district tightened third‑grade allocations to increase one‑on‑one time). The package also eliminates, freezes or renames certain positions and consolidates some special‑education paraprofessional roles; district officials said many of the added paraprofessionals will be funded from special‑education allocations.

The board voted to approve the certified and classified allocation changes and to authorize hiring list number one, which allows the district to issue contracts to the named employees. Dr. Williams said the administration intends to issue contracts earlier than in past years so schools can retain candidates during the competitive spring hiring season.

Board members pressed administrators on whether allocations would allow flexibility for schools with unusual discipline loads or special needs. Mr. Sin responded that cuts were not intended to leave critical schools unsupported and said the district would reallocate funds if schools demonstrate a clear need.

In executive session the board approved four separation agreements and then voted in open session to ratify those agreements. The board adjourned after those votes.

What’s next: the administration said it will implement tighter budget controls (targeting a 96% collection budget rate) and return to the board with further regular financial updates and monthly closeout work to ensure out‑year stability.