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Umatilla SD 6R plans 3.25 FTE reduction through attrition, consolidates 7–12 leadership to avoid layoffs
Summary
Superintendent Heidi Sipe told the budget committee the district reduced about 3.25 FTE via attrition and retirements and will consolidate leadership into a combined 7–12 principal and office manager role to preserve student-facing services without layoffs.
During the budget message, Superintendent Heidi Sipe said the district reduced General Fund staffing by approximately 3.25 full-time equivalent positions but emphasized the cuts were achieved through natural attrition and retirements rather than layoffs.
Sipe explained the district is consolidating leadership and support positions as part of a 7–12 school concept, creating a combined 7–12 principal and 7–12 office manager model. “We have carefully reduced our General Fund staffing by approximately 3.25 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) positions,” she said, and described the consolidation as a strategy to maintain program priorities while maximizing operational efficiencies.
Sipe noted that employee costs still represent roughly 78% of the General Fund and that a PERS increase of just over $1 million is driving up personnel-related spending even without adding staff. She stressed that class sizes remain small, each elementary teacher has a dedicated educational assistant, and the district continues to support specialized programs including dual-language, electives, career certifications and college-credit opportunities.
The administration plans to monitor enrollment volatility and funding changes when implementing the consolidated leadership model, and will prioritize keeping services for students intact as one-time funds (including ESSER carryover) phase out.
