Voluntary reductions sought

Sweetwater County School District No. 2 will initiate a voluntary separation program.

The district’s board of trustees voted Tuesday night to approve the voluntary separation program after a 24 minute executive session on the topic.

“The bottom line is we are avoiding laying people off,” board member Steve Core said.

Information regarding the program was unavailable on the district’s website prior to the meeting.

According to Donna Little-Kaumo, superintendent of the school district, the program’s details are being worked out between the district, a consulting firm and the district’s attorneys. She said eligible employees will receive a hand-delivered letter Jan. 22 describing the program, with an application attached.

Funding for the program will come from the district’s reserve monies.

Little-Kaumo said she anticipates a final list of employees approved to take part in the program to be completed in time for a vote during the board’s February board meeting.

The program comes in response to the district moving to close Jackson Elementary School at the end of the school year and a possible $3.99 million decline in funding from the state.

Little-Kaumo said the $3.99 million amount represents a worst-case scenario after legislators decide how to fund the state’s school systems.

With declining enrollment and a state government looking to cut back on education spending, the district faces increased pressure to reduce its costs. Little-Kaumo said changes to how the state pays districts based on their enrollment, as well as recommendations being made to increase class sizes starting with the fourth grade and changes proposed to how school insurance programs will all result in decreased funding amounts to the district.

While there is some good news in a few recommendations seeking more money for instructional facilitators, materials and teacher salaries, the district will still see funding declines.