Nettle Creek School Board weighs staff cuts, class-size increases to close $623,000 education shortfall

Nettle Creek School Board members and district administrators met in a work session to review a shortfall that administrators say requires $623,000 in cuts to the education fund and roughly $300,000 in operations.

"We need to cut 623,000 out of expenditures from the education budget," Mrs. Shafer told the board as she summarized the district's fiscal position and the cash‑balance implications if current estimates hold. She said if the state's circuit‑breaker estimate is correct and the district spends its full 2026 appropriation, the operations cash balance could fall to about $122,000.

The district presented a set of proposed rightsizing targets intended to reduce staffing and operating costs with minimal disruption. Administration recommended class‑size guidelines of about 23–25 for K–3, 25–28 for grades 4–6 and 25–29 for grades 7–12, and noted the district's current average class size is roughly 18. Officials said roughly 22 of the district's ≈183 junior/senior high course sections meet the 25‑student threshold under that standard.

Administrators framed rightsizing as a mix of near‑term and longer‑term changes: some positions could be held open through attrition in future years while others would require immediate action to meet the 2026 budget target. Mrs. Shafer outlined options for limiting impact and urged timely decisions so affected staff have adequate notice. "If they're not gonna have a job at Nettle Creek Schools next year, then now is the prime time for them to be finding a job at another school," she said, urging the board to move as soon as practicable.

School leaders also presented concrete revenue impacts of falling enrollment: staff said the district lost 11 students between the October and February counts—about $81,000 in revenue—and noted a potential decline of 30 kindergarten students representing about $220,000. Taken together, those two figures form roughly a $301,000 revenue loss the district is facing in the immediate horizon, administrators said.

Board members and administrators emphasized there are no final decisions yet and asked staff for additional analyses before voting. The superintendent clarified procedural steps required for personnel reductions: cuts affecting certified teaching positions would require specific board action, legal review and advance notification to impacted employees under board policy.

Teachers and staff who spoke during public comment warned that raising class sizes and reducing instructional support would harm classroom practice and student outcomes. "Class sizes go up. Scores go down," Lisa Bang, a first‑grade teacher, told the board. Other teachers urged that any reductions be phased, equitable and communicated promptly to those affected.

The board agreed to schedule an executive session to review personnel options and directed staff to return with more detailed proposals and supporting data. Mrs. Shafer said she would decline a planned personal contract increase as one guaranteed saving while the board evaluates broader steps.

Next steps: administrators will compile more granular analyses of the staffing, curricular and operational proposals for the board; the district signaled the board needs to act by late June or early July to finalize personnel decisions ahead of the 2026–27 school year.