January 15, 2025
Dear SRVUSD Community, Parents/Caregivers,
As I’ve shared in prior communications, SRVUSD must take decisive action to address our current and future fiscal challenges. Following a comprehensive process that included input from the Budget Advisory Committee, community surveys, multiple town hall meetings, and thoughtful advocacy from across the district, the Board of Education unanimously approved a revised budget reduction plan at last night’s Board of Education Meeting.
While the approval was unanimous by the Board of Education, they also expressed somber emotions, recognizing that this is not what is best for our students, staff, or community. This reduction plan, while necessary, comes with the difficult reality of reducing staff in every area of the district, and reducing important services, all of which negatively impact our students, staff, and community. These unfortunate measures are essential to establishing stronger fiscal stability, ensuring we maintain a positive certification of our current and future budgets, and keeping local control of SRVUSD’s financial structure.
Key Points in the Approved Reduction Plan
The reductions are significant. You can review the full plan here: Board Approved Budget Reduction Plan. Key changes from the initial proposal to the plan approved by the Board represent a balanced approach to help protect some of our mental health and counseling services while also keeping small class sizes for our youngest students. Compared to the original proposals, the following are the substantive changes:
- Elementary Class Sizes: Class sizes for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) through 3rd grade will not increase, preserving smaller class sizes for our youngest students and retaining 22 teaching positions previously proposed for reduction. In the approved plan, 4th and 5th grade class size ratios are proposed to increase by 2.
- Middle School Class Sizes: Increase the class size ratio by 1. This retains 4.6 teaching positions previously proposed for reduction and limits the increased ratio to 1 instead of 2 as originally proposed.
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High School Class Sizes: Increase the class size ratio by 2, as originally proposed.
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Social Workers: The original recommendation was to reduce 5 full-time positions (5.0 FTE/Full-Time Equivalent). The revised plan reduces 4 full-time positions (4.0 FTE), lessening the proposed reduction by 1 full-time position.
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Student Support Counseling High School: Retain 4.2 FTE of Student Support Counseling (originally proposed reduction of 4.2 FTE at high school). For Middle School: Reduce 4.0 FTE of Student Support Counseling as originally proposed.
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Middle/High School Counselors (Combined): Retain 3.2 FTE of the originally proposed reduction of 7.2 FTE.
Several of the reductions in the approved plan require negotiations with our labor unions, as mandated by law. While differing perspectives are expected and understandable, I am committed to collaborative, good-faith discussions with our labor partners to prioritize financial stability and the needs of our students and staff.
These reductions are scheduled to take effect in the 2025-2026 school year. Over the coming months, I will provide updates on how these reductions will impact various aspects of SRVUSD.
Our staff is actively advocating for increased state and federal funding to address these challenges. Additionally, we are planning and exploring strategies to generate extra revenue by developing new programs and leveraging the use of all available assets.
Despite these hardships, I am confident in our collective ability to adapt and maintain the high-quality education that defines SRVUSD. Every employee, student, and parent/caregiver is integral to this process as we navigate this challenging period.
Thank you for your understanding, cooperation, and dedication to our community. I am grateful to serve the SRVUSD staff, students, and families as we work through these challenges together.
Sincerely,
CJ Cammack
Superintendent
