With fiscal restraints paired with dropping enrollment rates, the Humboldt County School District (HCSD) Board of Trustees must make hard decisions when it comes to staffing schools for the 2023-2024 school year. At the HCSD Board of Trustees meeting on March 28, the Board discussed the proposed staffing plan for the upcoming school year as an information only item with all members present.
Based on current and projected enrollment, the HCSD is losing students. Because the District is funded on a per pupil basis, the reduction in students means a reduction in funds, which means potential cuts in staff and other services and programs that the HCSD provides.
According to current analysis, there is the possibility for as many as four positions to be cut at the elementary level, a position at the Orovada School, Paradise Valley School, French Ford Middle School, Winnemucca Junior High School, and an administrative position to be cut as well.
Parents and families of Paradise Valley were present and voiced their concerns about losing a teacher at their already low-staffed school.
Despite this, there are currently over 20 vacancies within the HCSD, so “No teacher is going to be without a job if they want a job,” according to Trustee Sabrina Uhlmann.
There are many positions in the HCSD filled with long-term substitute teachers or those that are uncertified, so even if some positions have to be cut, there are other opportunities for teachers.
According to Humboldt County School District Superintendent Dr. Dave Jensen, the Board will be asked to approve a staffing proposal in the coming weeks, though the proposal may change if there is an influx of students.
Throughout the pandemic and even after, the HCSD saw a decrease in enrollment, as families sought alternatives to public education. If students return to public school or enrollment rates increase, according to the Board, cuts may not have to be made.
In other HCSD news:
• The Board approved a 12 million dollar project that would bring increased bandwidth access to the remote rural schools. Like a project that has recently been approved by the Humboldt County Board of Commissioners in order to expand internet access to the rural libraries in Humboldt County, the HCSD is also going to take advantage of grant funding from the State and the federal government for the project.
According to HCSD Director of Technology Joe Brown, there will be zero cost to the District and there will also be significant cost savings for monthly internet service fees through the E- rate funding offered by the federal government. The State will also be covering a portion of the project in order to help meet the goal of providing internet access to rural schools.
Brown explained that the project is at least two years out, so the earliest that the project could be completed would be July of 2025.
• The Board heard a presentation by some of the students and staff that attended a week-long field trip that Winnemucca Junior High students took to Washington, DC that 24 students and 12 adults attended. The trip featured visits to many different monuments, museums, and memorials.
Students reported that they enjoyed the trip and that it was organized very well. Adults, mostly teachers and parents, that attended the trip told the Board that the trip felt safe and was “loaded with history”.
• Administration from the Denio, Kings River, Orovada, and Paradise Valley remote rural schools presented an update to the Board about the current academic programming, student achievement, improvement planning and more.
From students are learning how to play instruments from youtube videos in Kings River, to students are learning about geology at the Thacker Pass Lithium Mine site in Paradise Valley, the remote rural schools are keeping students engaged and creating unique programs.
• The Board approved summer bond projects in a split vote, six to one, with Trustee Lonnie Hammeragren in opposition.
The projects include long awaited landscape and pavement improvements to the McDermitt Combined School and a drainage project at Lowry High School.
Based on initial estimates, the combined costs of the projects will be over 2.1 million dollars, but thanks to efforts of the Bond Project Manager, Jon Burhans, and work with the bidders, there are opportunities for significant cost savings in both work and materials.
Due to a lower bid being withdrawn for the landscaping services in McDermitt and thus a higher bid having to be awarded, Trustee Hammeragren did not support the motion to approve the projects, despite the cost savings on the other projects.
• The Board approved the adoption of the Portrait of a Graduate,“a guiding document for the continued development of personalized learning in the district.” The document specifically highlights the goals of the HCSD to foster an environment where students learn to think critically.
“I believe this will change us systemically,” said Humboldt County Vice Superintendent Will Jensen.
• The Board approved a motion to cancel the meeting on July 11.