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New executive order limiting cuts to student contact days puzzles Milton‑Freewater officials
Summary
Officials said a recent executive order removing PD/parent‑teacher time from counted hours and setting minimum student contact days could make cutting days an impractical budget tool; staff called the order's legal status 'murky'.
Committee discussed a recent governor's executive order that redefines which hours can count toward required student contact time and sets a floor on student days. Aaron Duff, the district superintendent, and Denise Kelly told the committee the change could effectively prevent districts from using a reduction in student contact days as a budget‑saving measure and may require renegotiating staff contracts in some districts.
"The executive order did two things. It redefined that those hours cannot include the PD or parent‑teacher conferences...Second thing that the executive order did was it set a number of student contact days...So you can't cut days," the district explained. Staff said the legal and operational status of the order remains unclear in the weeks after issuance and that some districts may seek waivers or clarification from the state board.
The committee heard that cutting days is typically a last‑resort budgeting tool because it often requires negotiations and carries political fallout, and staff said Milton‑Freewater is not planning cuts at this time.
