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Interim superintendent reports partial restorations after reduction-in-force, previews July/August budget steps
Summary
Interim Superintendent Mr. Butchmitt told the board that of 287 certificated staff notified under a reduction-in-force process, 233 were returned to employment while 54 positions remain unfilled; he cited special-education caseload changes and new grants as reasons for restorations and said the board will receive finalized budget projections in July with adoption planned in August.
Interim Superintendent Mr. Butchmitt briefed the Vancouver Public Schools board on the district's reduction-in-force (RIF) and budget process, reporting that staffing outcomes were better than the initial worst-case scenario presented earlier in the year.
Mr. Butchmitt said 287 certificated staff members were initially notified that positions might be eliminated or reassigned; subsequent adjustments — including special-education caseload increases, newly available grant funding, retirements and resignations — allowed the district to return 233 certificated employees to work. He said 54 certificated educators remain without an assignment and the district will support those staff through the transition.
The superintendent emphasized the budget calendar: staff expect to return with more specific forecasts and a completed budget in July, and the board will be asked to formally adopt the budget in August. He described the district's fiscal constraints as driven by declining enrollment, limitations in the state funding model, rising costs, and recent changes in cash-flow and borrowing availability.
Mr. Butchmitt also referenced history of board committee work dating to October and the various staff and board briefings in October, December, January and February that shaped the district's planning. Board members and public speakers discussed the human impact of staffing changes and the need to coordinate budgeting with community priorities and legally constrained contracts.
What the board approved in this meeting (related votes): routine approvals of minutes and a consent agenda were unanimous among the four directors present; two revised policies (5010 and 5404) were adopted as second readings based on recommendations from WASDA; a purchase agreement for charging carts (No. 2026002) was approved and will be funded from the district's technology levy.
Why it matters: The staffing numbers and calendar provide a clear near-term framework for how the district plans to restore services and finalize the budget. The remaining 54 certificated positions and attendant service decisions will affect classroom assignments and program continuity for the coming school year.
