Enrollment drop means school staff cuts in fall

The impact of budget ax reality fell sharply and heavily upon La Conner Schools Monday night.

And it hurt.

Projections of declining student enrollment and loss of COVID-19 emergency funding forced the school board to reluctantly agree to cut four faculty positions as part of a $1.5 million cost-saving plan for the 2023-24 academic year.

"This is a very sad day for our school district," Board President Susie Deyo lamented near the end of an almost two-hour meeting, much of it public comments from students, parents and teachers concerned about staff reductions and loss of programs.

Several among the audience that filled the large meeting room stepped forward to express support for teachers and programs, such as the after-school Braves Club, which allows parents to work full-time and not cut shifts short to pick up children when school dismisses mid-afternoon.

Superintendent Will Nelson said the district won't announce until the second week in May which faculty members will be affected by the staff cuts, though students who spoke seemed to know whose positions are in jeopardy.

"I'm upset about the budget cuts," said high school junior Jack Dougliss. "What is your plan for the core classes? If Mr. Voorhees takes history, what happens to the culinary class? This is terrifying to think about."

High school student body president Rachel Haley said her graduating class has already navigated difficult pandemic conditions, which necessitated remote learning for parts of two school years, limited fundraising opportunities and saw staff turnover and curriculum adjustments.

"We make personal connections with the staff," Haley said. "We've had four different math teachers, one of whom passed away, and seen drama go from an elective to an extracurricular activity. Right now there's a lot out of our control. But we stand in solidarity with the teachers being let go."

Veteran high school teacher Suzann Keith, a third generation La Conner alum and student parent, said the past week – when the prospect of staff cuts became widely known – has been one of the hardest in her career here.

"We've had more students and staff in tears than ever before," she said. "We know we're facing a budget crisis, but we were blindsided by the amount of cuts and there will probably be more to come with the classified staff. Those who aren't laid off are worried about the increased workload and worried for our students. Cutting elective programs won't encourage students to stay in La Conner or come to La Conner.

"We're trying to do a lot of great things in La Conner," Keith said, "but it's hard when we're losing staff that's most equipped to make that happen. I'm worried about our future as an entity. Will we have a high school going forward?"

Teacher Daniel Castillo, whose high school construction class is building a tiny house for donation, said a cruel putdown he suffered as a youth from one of his teachers led him to pursue a career in education.

"I decided I could either quit or become a teacher myself, one with infinite patience," he said. "I want the students in my classroom to feel welcome and safe. I love La Conner." Castillo indicated if he were let go he would want to continue working on the campus as a substitute or paraprofessional.

"Going forward, this is going to be difficult," said parent Bryan McCormick, who bemoaned the loss of "teachers who have touched our kids' lives. There will be bigger class loads. What will the effects be on our kids? There are wonderful teachers who are going away. That's not fair to our kids. It comes down to the money."

He asked for greater transparency from the administration and said 5 p.m. board meeting times aren't convenient for parents.

Finance chief David Cram thanked meeting attendees for their input and then spelled out the fiscal crunch faced by school systems across the state.

"La Conner isn't alone in this," Cram said, noting that school closures have been ordered in King County and that dropping enrollments drive budget cuts. Student numbers are a major factor determining state funding for school districts.

Enrollment has been in the low 500s this year, he said, and projects enrollment at 490 in the fall.

Cram projects the district will have a fund balance of just over $100,000 in August. Board policy calls for that reserve account to equal 10% of the district's annual budget, around $1.4 million.

"This," he said, "is a very significant shortfall when it comes to the fund balance."

Board member John Agen said La Conner Schools is "constantly faced with being underfunded by the (state) government with what we believe in our hearts is needed to provide for our students."

Deyo said the district, given present financial constraints, will need to be creative when it comes to attracting students from other districts and keeping in place those that are here now. She held out hope that any staff or program cuts can be reversed should the budget situation improve more quickly than expected.

Deyo said the names of staff at risk of being laid off "are not being identified at this time."

The board also heard from Swinomish Tribal Senators Alana Quintasket and Eric Day, Swinomish Environmental Protection Director Todd Mitchell and staff members Jen Willup and Morgan Brown, La Conner teacher Alyse Sehlin, Skagit River System Cooperative staffer Catey Ritchie and Swinomish master carver Kevin Paul who advocated for the board to approve a proposed native botanical plant garden on campus. Plans include a salmon barbecue pit.

"I ask the board to move the garden project forward," said Mitchell, son of late former La Conner elementary principal Ray Mitchell.

Day said the project will provide interested students valuable hands-on learning experiences like the ones he recalls from his time as a La Conner student.

"I spent a lot of time learning in these halls," he said. "But I also remember the hands-on learning I received here, like learning to take care of a vehicle and to work with wood. It's important to learn from books, but it's also important to get your hands involved."