MLSD to eliminate equivalent of 85 more positions
The Moses Lake School District is working to reduce staffing and other expenses after two failed levy proposals and various accounting errors created a budget shortfall.
FILE PHOTO
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District will reduce its staff for the 2024-25 school year by about 85 jobs among its classified employees. The new reductions are in addition to about 100 layoffs announced May 15.
The new round of reductions affects classified (non-teaching) employees only, according to a MLSD press release. The previous reduction affected certificated (teaching) employees and administrators.
“Unfortunately, these steps are essential to ensure the financial stability of our organization,” said acting Superintendent Carol Lewis in the release. “We value the contributions of our classified staff and recognize the impact this will have on their lives and our schools and students.”
The cuts announced Wednesday represent a 13% reduction in the classified budget, the press release said. As of Wednesday, the equivalent of 6.5 district-level positions have been cut, amounting to a 15.5% budgetary reduction for that category
District voters rejected a two-year educational programs and operations levy this spring. In addition, district officials overestimated the number of students when preparing the 2023-24 budget, which meant reduced funding when state education officials began using actual enrollment to calculate apportionment in January.
When reviewing the budget, officials of the North Central ESD found accounting errors that had caused district officials to overestimate the amount of money available to the district.
“The Moses Lake School District will continue to monitor its financial situation closely and explore additional strategies to enhance efficiencies and reduce costs,” the press release said.
A special school board meeting will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. for the MLSD School Board to consider approving a resolution to borrow from the district’s capital fund to ensure the district makes payroll after it was discovered last week that the district would have a negative $2.2 million general fund balance if it did not loan itself the money from the capital budget.