Rainier School Board votes to eliminate positions in district

The Rainier School Board voted 3-2 in favor of Reduction in Forces Resolution 299 on March 19, authorizing Rainier School District No. 307 to eliminate positions due to budget cuts, enrollment changes and other financial constraints.

It is unclear to the Nisqually Valley News which, and how many, positions will be eliminated.

The March 19 vote comes a year after local taxpayers approved two separate levies to support funding for the school district: Proposition 1, an educational programs and operations levy; and Proposition 2, a capital levy for safety, security and maintenance repairs, which, among many items, included the replacement of Rainier’s track and football fields.

Proposition 1 was particularly wide-ranging. The four-year ER&O levy intended to provide funding for not only athletics, extracurriculars, remediation and special education, but also transportation, food services, teachers, classified staff, administration, custodial staffing, students with special needs, low-income students and more.

For at least some employees at the Rainier School District, this makes the 3-2 vote in favor of a reduction in the district’s workforce all the more disappointing.

“Our levies passed, one of which was to keep classified employees employed, (so) where is that money being spent?” a Rainier School District employee, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Nisqually Valley News. “We have options that could work instead of cuts but they are not being considered.”

The employee added that Rainier School District Superintendent Bryon Bahr “immediately said ‘no’” during the March 19 school board meeting when asked if he would look at other options for cuts.

Bahr has been vocal about the challenges of achieving financial stability in the district, including at a separate March 19 meeting with the Thurston County Board of Commissioners and other county superintendents.

“We’ve done different things and we just keep getting knocked down,” Bahr said during the meeting with commissioners. “What I would ask is if you have any time or any energy with any of our legislators, please talk to them about supporting schools.”

The Nisqually Valley News reached out to both Bahr and Rainier School Board Chairman Jerry Sprouffske for this story, but did not receive comment before press time.

Chairman Sprouffske, along with board members Dana Spivey and Rebecca Stillings, voted yes on Resolution 299. Edgar Ooms and Amanda Siemandel, the board’s newest members, voted no.

“Decisions that impact our students, staff and community are never taken lightly,” Stillings wrote in an email to the Nisqually Valley News. “Due to budget challenges/enrollment shifts/financial constraints, we’ve had to make difficult choices to ensure the long-term stability of our schools. Our priority is providing a high-quality education for students and while being responsible stewards of our resources. Every decision I make is considered with our district vision in mind: ‘The best education for every student, every day, every way.’ We deeply appreciate the dedication of our staff and are committed to supporting any staff affected during this transition.”

The Nisqually Valley News also reached out to both Ooms and Siemandel, the Rainier School Board members who opposed the resolution, but have yet to receive comment regarding the vote.

The Rainier School District employee who wished to remain anonymous noted that the impending reduction in RSD employees comes amidst a recent increased investment in athletics. According to a publicly available budget summary of associated student body funds, dated July 6, 2023, the RSD nearly doubled its budgeted athletics expenditures for academic year 2023-2024 compared to 2022-2023, going from $45,925 to $84,604.

“Why aren’t we doing pay to play for our athletics?” asked the employee.

A four-year budget forecast, also dated July 6, 2023, predicted that budgeted athletics expenditures would drop to $40,000 by academic year 2025-2026, with a predicted budgeted revenue of $64,685.

Rainier School District is one of eight public school districts in Thurston County that provide primary and secondary education for students. Board members are elected by the community and serve a four-year term.

The next Rainier School Board meeting is scheduled for April 23, at 6 p.m.