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Cascade board says no layoffs this year; district prioritizes staff while cutting materials
Summary
Trustees were told the proposed budget preserves jobs for the coming year — staff said they would reduce nonpersonnel spending and use reserves to avoid layoffs while continuing negotiated salary steps and cost‑of‑living increases.
Administrators told the board they planned to preserve current staff and negotiated salary steps for the coming year despite tight finances. The proposed budget includes negotiated increases (2.5% for certified steps and a 3% overall increase for represented staff), and staff said they would prioritize classroom positions and look to reduce materials, programs and nonessential purchases before considering personnel actions.
The superintendent said the district would "shrink this budget down about $1,000,000 by really not affecting people directly related to kids" and added, "I'd rather cut out that process than cut a person." Wang confirmed the budget maintains all scheduled salary steps and benefits for employees in the coming year, and noted 42 certified teachers are at the top salary step—an indicator staff highlighted as evidence of teacher retention. Board members pressed on insurance, substitutes, retirements and whether any positions would be held vacant; staff said they planned carefully and would revisit harder conversations the following year if necessary.
