Eastmont District budget update sees staff cuts due to reduced enrollment

EAST WENATCHEE — Interim Eastmont School District Superintendent Spencer Taylor is tasked with delivering difficult news to parents and the community.

But a school district’s budget is a tightrope even in the most affluent communities, and all across Washington state there’s been an education funding crisis for years. Taylor notes that the community has become accustomed to budget shortfalls, but is not attributing this one to Eastmont-specific policies.

Now, due to reduced enrollment primarily at the two extremes of the grade spectrum, there are unfortunately staff reductions in the works. At the kindergarten level, reduced enrollment can come from a number of factors, but is explained primarily by a decreasing birth rate and the cost of housing in this area. At the high school level, many students are availing themselves of the Running Start program and find themselves in seats at Wenatchee Valley College instead of Eastmont.

In fact, the district anticipates a three-point-five percent reduction in enrollment. That looks like it’s going to translate to approximately 10% cuts in administration, which will bear the brunt of the reductions. The district anticipates a five percent reduction in the budget each in both certificated staff (those holding teaching certificates) and classified staff (those not required to be certified, like custodians and bus drivers).

The reason for the use of percentages rather than real numbers for expected cuts is that much of the “right-sizing,” as Taylor calls it, will come from restructuring existing roles. Where one person may have been filling a role as a job of its own previously, two or more jobs may be consolidated into one in the future. For example, Taylor is the Executive Director of Elementary Education for Eastmont, but was named Interim Superintendent last December in anticipation of former ESD Superintendent Becky Berg’s retirement at the beginning of this year.

He now holds both roles until a new Superintendent is appointed by the school board.

The district does not believe there will be a large disruption in class sizes, from essentially no change for elementary levels to slight variations based on department at the secondary level.

Many parents have questioned the prioritization of sports and the purchase of a bus over keeping staff. The district explains that sports funding and transportation spending come from entirely separate funding allocations and can’t be redirected to staffing. The district could not, for example, forego repairs to a district vehicle in order to redirect that money to teacher pay.

Priorities are on the mind of the Eastmont Education Association President, as well. Natalie Hoback-Noyd holds a dual role herself, as both the Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports Coordinator at Kenroy Elementary and the EEA union leader.

“Eastmont Education Association members understand the District’s challenges, although we do not agree with some of the budget items the District has chosen to prioritize,” Hoback-Noyd said. But in addition to being in this for the kids, Hoback-Noyd says the union wants to preserve what they can through collective bargaining. “Our goal is to offer contract concessions to save as many jobs as possible,” she said.

You can see their current contract at this link.

An additional struggle that Eastmont faces is the fact that the state only funds about 70% of school district positions, and in practice, actually underfunds the true costs, according to Taylor. The schools are forced to make up the shortfall with levies and other revenues to make sure that educators and administrative staff get required cost of living adjustments.

"We are keeping the student experience at the heart of this," said Taylor. "This is really hard. Eastmont has a great culture, and we try to do our best to support our staff, so our staff can support students, and any time that you're not able to keep staff, it is really, really hard."

Taylor wants parents and community members to know one thing first and foremost: That all budget decisions are being made with students in mind, and that all contracts are being honored, including the contract with the community that funds their levy.

“District budgets are incredibly complicated, and we want to make sure that your questions are answered,” said Taylor. He added that you can contact his office at 509-884-7169 or taylors@eastmont206.org, or you can reach Kayla Brown, the executive director of human resources at brownk@eastmont206.org.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media