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Budget forces class-size trade-offs: district projects 30:1 ratio after cuts
Summary
Superintendent Hellman told the committee that, after cuts and conservative enrollment planning, the district's student-to-teacher ratio is projected near 30:1 in some grades (previously budgeted at 17:1), with staff reallocation and possible program shifts proposed to manage the change.
Superintendent Hellman said the district's staffing and enrollment picture means class-size ratios will be larger in 2627 than in previous budgets.
"Based on those numbers, our current student to teacher ratio came out to 30 to 1," Hellman said, explaining the shift from prior plans that budgeted a 17:1 ratio. She told the committee the district cut heavily already and the current plan is deliberately conservative to preserve a modest ending fund balance and program continuity.
Committee members discussed options including reassigning staff, creating a self-contained behavior classroom versus maintaining a behavior specialist, and the possibility of expanding Mist (the rural school) to capture double-weighted funding. Hellman emphasized that some moves would replace existing positions rather than add them, and that community input is needed for any school-expansion decision.
