Dropping enrollment will mean fewer teachers for Edmonds district

Published 6:54 am Monday, March 3, 2008

LYNNWOOD – The Edmonds School Board reviewed a proposal Tuesday that could cut teaching positions but would also spare people from losing their jobs.

The district hopes to take advantage of openings caused by retirements and resignations by reassigning some teachers to different positions.

It’s a sign of the times in a district that has been watching enrollment drop over the last several years. The district, which now has 20,611 students, is expecting 300 fewer next fall.

Schools receive money from the state based on the number of students enrolled. Edmonds is projecting about a $1 million revenue loss for next year.

For now, the district is looking at the equivalent of 11 fewer teaching positions for next year, but that is a preliminary number.

“We’re going to have fewer positions, but because of attrition, we should absorb that,” said Doug Pierce, executive director of human resources for the district.

District leaders still don’t know how many teachers will submit retirement or resignation letters before the school year ends. They are studying areas that can be reduced, in part because of less demand for the courses next year.

Some of those teachers likely have credentials to teach in other subject areas the district needs, said Debbie Jakala, district spokeswoman.

Pierce said he believes he has found positions for all surplus teachers.

If they do not all fit into the openings left by retirements and resignations, the district must notify the remaining teachers by May 15, he said. That’s the date required by state law for school districts to notify teachers if they will have a contract the following year. It’s also possible anyone receiving those letters could still be on the district payroll next year when it becomes clearer which teachers are retiring or resigning.

The school board will be given a revised recommendation when it meets again May 10.

Eric Stevick is a writer for The Herald in Everett. Enterprise writer Jennifer Aaby contributed to this article.