Hill City board directs administration to recommend program and position reductions amid enrollment drop

The Hill City Public School District Board voted Jan. 27 to direct the superintendent and administration to prepare recommendations for discontinuing or curtailing programs and positions in response to the district—s financial shortfall and reduced enrollment.

The resolution, introduced and moved by Board Member Jeremy Nelson and seconded by Treasurer Sarah Kingsley, instructs administration to consider which teachers' contracts may be terminated or which teachers may be placed on unrequested leaves of absence as part of required expenditure reductions. The motion passed on a roll call vote with Ron Saxton, Sarah Kingsley, Joell Miranda, Jay Zapzalka and Jeremy Nelson voting yes; Haley Wentz was absent.

Board members emphasized the need for an administrative review before any personnel action. Superintendent Max Torgerson is directed to return to the board with specific recommendations and rationale for any proposed program curtailments or position discontinuances. No motions to effect immediate terminations or leaves were made at the meeting; the resolution is a directive to staff to produce options for future board consideration.

The board cited decreasing enrollment and the district—s budget pressures as the reason for the directive. The resolution text states that reductions are necessary "as a result of a reduction in enrollment" and that administration should recommend discontinuance or curtailment of positions and programs to effectuate economies.

Next steps announced at the meeting: administration will analyze program costs, staffing implications and legal requirements related to teacher contracts and present options at a future board meeting. The board did not set a deadline for those recommendations at the Jan. 27 meeting.