RICHLAND, Wash.-Paraeducators and community members expressed their concern over the Richland School District’s budget crisis and potential layoffs at the board meeting on Nov. 12.
Paraeducators addressed the budget crisis and the now-shelved lay off plans during the public comment portion of the meeting.
“I would give anything to get an answer to what is going on,” said Nicole Pratt, an RSD paraeductor. “I would like to know why we are being asked to make up for the financial shortfall that was caused by the people in this building, not by us.”
The RSD’s budget shortfall is a due to multiple factors, including a lack of state funding, the loss of some federal funding and economic challenges, according to the district.
Due to the budget crisis, paraeducators were told by the district that, based on seniority they could accept new positions, have their names added to a substitute list or be layed off.
The public comment got emotional at times during the board meeting as paraeducators recounted how closely they work with students.
“I could tell you the first and last name of the 496 kids at my school,” said Mary Ennis, a paraeducator at William Wiley Elementary. “Who they live with, their dogs’ names and what they do for the weekends.”
The RSD announced that it was “pausing” its planned cuts to paraeducator positions in a letter to the community on Oct. 30.
RSD Board President Rick Jansons apologized for the district’s handling of the potential cuts to staff and the lack of transparency in regards to the budget situation at the meeting.
“I’m going to apologize on behalf of the district,” Jansons said in announcing that a comprehensive plan to address the budget would be unveiled at the board’s next meeting on Nov. 26.
The pause to the layoff plan has not softened the blow of paraeducators possibly losing their jobs, or resolved the budget crisis still hanging over the district.
“How do you sleep at night?” Ennis asked the RSD Board in regards to the district’s lack of transparency concerning its budget problems and the plan to cut paraeducator jobs.
