Weston County School District #1 board approves staff reduction list, confirms new and continuing teacher contracts

The Weston County School District #1 Board of Trustees approved a staff reduction-in-force list for the 2026–27 school year and confirmed multiple certified contracts at their March 11 meeting.

Superintendent Brad LaCroix presented the RIF, saying it was driven by a decline in average daily membership (ADM), district downsizing and the need to maintain program quality. Trustee Jason Jenkins moved to adopt the list after an earlier motion resulted in a tie; Trustee Susan Pillen seconded and the motion carried 6–2. Trustees Sean Crabtree and Dana Mann-Tavegia voted against the RIF.

LaCroix also recommended initial certified contracts for Patricia Miller, Sara Keeler and Leigh Morrill for 2026–27; the board approved those hires. The board confirmed continuing contracts for Meridith Tolley, Payton Watt, Rebecca Tacy, Kiersten Davidson, Travis Thomas and Erika Pehringer and approved a slate of non-tenure certified staff (Sally Hoover, Nikki Bloom, Andrea Gregory, Scott McGuire, Angie Stanton, Jo Lisa Wainscott and Hannah Hieb).

Board action followed the consent agenda, which included approval of minutes and routine warrants. LaCroix described the measures as part of a two-stage process to right-size the district in light of lower enrollment; he framed the night’s approvals as the first hurdle in a broader set of changes the district expects to face.

The board did not provide a detailed public breakdown of precisely which positions were affected by the RIF in the meeting minutes; LaCroix cited the RIF list presented in executive session. The board’s next regular meeting is March 25, when administrators’ contracts were scheduled to return to the agenda.