RICHLAND, Wash. – 145 paraeducators in the Richland School District faced reassignment Tuesday, according to the Public School Employees of Washington.
This development has been confirmed by Shawna Dinh, the district’s public information officer, and Tim Praino, the executive director of human resources.
According to a Nov. 21 letter provided to NonStop Local by an anonymous paraeducator, the reassignment was to occur at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, and last until all paraeducators had made a decision.
The Public School Employees of Washington Paraeducators #112 Chapter Leadership released this statement regarding the situation:
“Today, December 17, 2024, 145 of the 412 paraeducators in the Richland School District had to make a significant decision about their jobs. All general education paraeducators in RSD were given the option to stay in their current positions or accept a different assignment if displaced. While some paraeducators chose to go on layoff status, it’s important to highlight the union’s tireless efforts in protecting as many jobs as possible. Thanks to their hard work and dedication, all paraeducators were offered positions, with many choosing to stay on board and continue their valuable work.”
According to Dinh, a statement from the Richland School District will be available Wednesday morning, detailing the outcomes of the layoffs and any new changes that will be implemented.
