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Board favors attrition over layoffs amid insurance and funding concerns
Summary
Board members said they preferred staff reductions, if needed, to occur through attrition rather than layoffs, citing insurance cost shifts and federally funded positions as complicating factors; public comment prompted questions about maintaining a positive budget.
During the March 19 special meeting, board members and staff discussed how potential budget pressures could affect personnel decisions for the 2026–27 school year. Sue Holland asked how the board intends to "maintain a positive budget rather than facing a deficit," prompting comments from President Phillips and Ms. Medina about trade-offs and risks.
President Phillips warned that while new insurance percentages may be beneficial for employees, they could create budgetary pressure if many staffers change to the district plan; he emphasized staff are the district's "most valuable asset" and said he would prefer any necessary reductions to occur "through attrition rather than a reduction in force (RIF)." Ms. Medina concurred, saying there are currently "no concerns with the budget" but reaffirming a preference for attrition if cuts became unavoidable. She also noted that employees in federally funded program positions have salaries and benefits paid outside regular SEG funds, and that federal funding for those positions had seen modest increases.
The exchange was a discussion rather than a directive: the board did not vote on personnel policy at the special meeting. The board carried a separate procedural adjournment motion 5-0 and scheduled the regular meeting to begin immediately afterward.
