Superintendent says district cut 12 central-office positions and reduced compensation by about $1.3 million
December 21, 2024 | Moses Lake School District, School Districts, Washington
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During the Moses Lake School Directors Board meeting on Dec. 19, the superintendent delivered a report responding to recurring community questions about class sizes, staffing and compensation.
The superintendent said that district-office positions decreased from 32 last school year to 20 this year — a reduction of 12 positions — and that the total compensation for those district-office roles is roughly $1,300,000 less than the prior year. She said the reductions include eliminated administrative specialist and enrollment specialist positions and the removal of an assistant superintendent post. "Last school year we had 32 positions at the district office, and currently this year we have 20," she said.
Addressing class-size concerns at Moses Lake High School, the superintendent said most secondary classes have a 30-student maximum (music classes excepted). She reported that currently two English classes have 31 students and one integrated PE class has 32 students, and rejected circulating claims of classes with 40 or 45 students. "That's not true," she said, adding that administrators have reviewed the data.
She described restructuring on finance and HR teams: several posted positions reflect vacancies and necessary reassignments rather than the creation of new roles, and some positions were consolidated or eliminated. She said some roles took percentage reductions (for example, an executive-level travel allowance was removed) and that she personally accepted a 21% reduction in compensation compared with the prior superintendent contract.
The superintendent closed by saying she will present a more detailed plan for how the district would use local effort assistance funds that accompany a levy; she expects to share that plan at the next report and with community groups.
Board members followed with questions about comparisons with similarly sized districts; the superintendent said districts structure positions differently and that Moses Lake's administrative staffing compares as understaffed in some measures.
The superintendent said that district-office positions decreased from 32 last school year to 20 this year — a reduction of 12 positions — and that the total compensation for those district-office roles is roughly $1,300,000 less than the prior year. She said the reductions include eliminated administrative specialist and enrollment specialist positions and the removal of an assistant superintendent post. "Last school year we had 32 positions at the district office, and currently this year we have 20," she said.
Addressing class-size concerns at Moses Lake High School, the superintendent said most secondary classes have a 30-student maximum (music classes excepted). She reported that currently two English classes have 31 students and one integrated PE class has 32 students, and rejected circulating claims of classes with 40 or 45 students. "That's not true," she said, adding that administrators have reviewed the data.
She described restructuring on finance and HR teams: several posted positions reflect vacancies and necessary reassignments rather than the creation of new roles, and some positions were consolidated or eliminated. She said some roles took percentage reductions (for example, an executive-level travel allowance was removed) and that she personally accepted a 21% reduction in compensation compared with the prior superintendent contract.
The superintendent closed by saying she will present a more detailed plan for how the district would use local effort assistance funds that accompany a levy; she expects to share that plan at the next report and with community groups.
Board members followed with questions about comparisons with similarly sized districts; the superintendent said districts structure positions differently and that Moses Lake's administrative staffing compares as understaffed in some measures.
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