Seattle Schools Releases Final Staffing Adjustments

Update: I almost hate to post this but the Times decided to opine on this issue.  I'm not sure most of you will appreciate it.  Basically:

The district is not eliminating staff positions because of lower-than-expected enrollment but instead is moving some teachers and staff to the schools with the most demand.

But they also say this which is funny considering they NEVER hold senior leadership accountable for lack of transparency in spending:

While it’s clear the state must put more money into education, it’s also true that individual school districts must spend every dollar as effectively as possible — for the benefit of students.

end of update

From SPS Communications (Editor's note: I broke up this press release into more paragraphs for easier reading):

SEATTLE–Seattle Public Schools will add certified staff to five schools next week, and reassign only seven certified staff to other schools, out of nearly 1,100 general education staff (elementary, middle, K-8).

As the district shared earlier this month, 52,399 students are enrolled in the district this year, according to the 10-day headcount (9/30). This is an increase of 411 students over last year. However, while we have more students this year, the number is lower than projected by 675. This translates into $4.23 million less in revenue from the state, not including the enrollment decline impact on Special Education, Transportation or Nutrition Services.

Some schools have increased enrollment, some have decreased enrollment. This made it necessary to add more staff at those schools with higher enrollment and to reduce staff at those with lower enrollment, with a couple of unique exceptions based on classroom configuration. SPS district staff have worked closely with school leaders to address the timeline during the reassignment process. This has resulted in a net reduction of 21.5 full-time positions. 

Eight start-of-school substitutes were added district-wide and funded centrally in schools where principals believed their enrollment may be higher than the district projection. Principals used this resource to support smooth start of school efforts. The goal was to reduce the number of classes without a teacher, and to mitigate for last minute enrollment changes. 

Five of the six elementary and middle schools that received a substitute did not qualify to keep this position.

One of the schools, Green Lake, will add a full time teacher. 

The six substitutes pulled were at the following schools: Emerson, John Hay, Schmitz Park, West Woodland, Washington and Queen Anne.  

Those staff will be assigned to hard to fill positions and assigned to one building rather than different daily assignments across the district. Some schools have enrollment changes at the grade level, as compared to projections, that generated the need to add staff in some schools but also reduce in other schools.

The five schools adding staff members are:

Green Lake                                          1.0 addition

Rainier View                                        1.0 addition

Viewlands                                            1.0 addition

Madison                                               2.0 additions

Hamilton                                              1.0 addition

The seven schools who have been impacted by the need to reassign a staff member are:

Jane Addams                                       .4 partial displacement             1.1 internal funds, 1 reassigned to Broadview Thomson as part-time building designated substitute

West Seattle Elementary                      1.0 displacement                      Reassigned to Lafayette

North Beach Elementary                      1.0 displacement                      Reassigned to Bagley

K-6 Stem @ Boren                              1.0 displacement                      Reassigned to Rainier Beach

Highland Park Elementary                   1.0 displacement                      Reassigned to Emerson as building designated substitute

Dunlap Elementary                              1.0 displacement                      Reassigned to Kimball

Bryant Elementary                               1.0 displacement                      Reassigned to Viewlands

Five schools had individuals choose to slightly reduce their contracts in order to remain at the school:

Sand Point                                           .5 vacant position closed, .2 reduction, .3 funds restored with internal/external

Wedgwood                                          .5 vacant position closed, reassigned to Roxhill as .5 building designated sub

Broadview Thomson                           Vacant position closed, two staff reduced .5 each to job share

Whitman                                              Vacant position closed, two employees reduced .2 each, .4 funds identified, .2 to be determined

Madrona K-8                                       .5 vacant position closed, two staff reduced .2 and .3 each

The following schools either closed vacant positions or found alternative funding:

Alki                                                     Retained in position due to community funding

B.F. Day                                              Grade one combined, vacant position closed

Beacon Hill                                          Vacant position closed

Concord                                               Vacant position closed

Bailey Gatzert                                      Funds restored with alternative funding

Laurelhurst                                          Vacant position closed

Lowell                                                 Vacant position closed

Martin Luther King                              Vacant position closed

Olympic View                                     Vacant position closed

Queen Anne                                        Allocation had not been utilized yet

Roxhill                                                 Two vacant positions closed

Denny                                                  Alternate  funding identified

                       

Special Education:

Out of 900 staff members, four teachers and eight instructional assistants were reassigned to other schools.

English Language Learners

We added ELL services to 35 schools (all schools now provide ELL services).

Out of 326 ELL teachers, 3.5 positions were reallocated.

We understand families and staff are impacted by these changes. The SPS Human Resources Department staff continues to work closely with every building to ensure clarity and support throughout this process. Those seven staff being reassigned, have been assured that being reassigned has no impact on their contract status, FTE level, pay, benefits or retirement.