School districts wrestle with cuts

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Like nearly every other school district in the state, Toppenish has struggled to cope with its share of an $800 million cut in public school funds.

It will lay off nine of 232 teachers and lose up to five others through attrition.

"It's been a very, very emotionally draining process for us," said Steve Myers, superintendent.

While cuts across the Yakima Valley were not as bad as some initially feared, it hasn't been an easy process for schools, which have adapted using a combination of layoffs, program cuts and attribution, such as relying on retirements, resignations and not renewing short-term contracts.

Today marks the official deadline for school districts to notify certificated employees, such as teachers, counselors and some types of administrators, whether they'll have jobs next year. Districts also may cut classified staff, such as custodians and teachers' aides. Most plan to do that by the end of the school year.

Nearly all area districts have notified certificated employees.

The Yakima School District -- the Valley's largest -- will not lay anybody off, though so far, eight teachers have announced retirement and won't be replaced. It could, however, be making program cuts in the coming months.

In Sunnyside, the school district will lose 20 certificated positions, all through attrition, said Rick Cole, superintendent. Nobody has been laid off in order to cope with a $3.5 million cutback.

East Valley School District is among the harder hit districts. It will have 17 fewer certified staff through a combination of layoffs and attrition, reflecting 12 full-time positions. Roughly half the $1 million in cutbacks there came from staff, the rest mostly through programs.

The Mabton School District cut its high school music program, saving $150,000. With it went the instructor, the district's only layoff.

"We were hoping we would not have to," said Sandra Pasiero-Davis, Mabton superintendent.

The program was worthwhile, she said, but it attracted a relatively small number of students.

Mabton schools will lose three other teachers through retirement or not renewing contracts.

Many administrators are still undecided as to how many positions they will actually lose, though, because they're unsure how federal stimulus funds will help them. There may be restrictions on how some of it can be spent.

"What are the parameters, what can we use it on?" said Tim Dunn, superintendent of the Granger School District, which laid off two instructional coaches.

Some districts may even be able to hire back employees who received layoff notices, said Dean Schlenker, director of business and operations for the Highland School District, which sent notices to six certified employees, four teachers and two counselors.

* Ross Courtney can be reached at 509-930-8798 or rcourtney@yakimaherald.com.