Feb. 18—Mesa Public Schools is planning to cut 385 full-time positions from its payrolls next year — an unusually large number even for a district accustomed to "right-sizing" staff due to long-term enrollment decline.
In a presentation at last week's MPS Governing Board meeting, district administration blamed the larger-than-usual cuts on a combination of a robust projected enrollment drop of 971 students next school year and the end of federal COVID relief funds.
Administrators project the reduction in students will cost MPS $12 million in state funding, and the sunsetting of the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds will cost $7.3 million.
The job cuts will be split between certified teachers and professional staff: 194 teaching positions will be trimmed, 187 staff and four administrators.
Assistant Superintendent Scott Thompson said the district hopes to move as many of those affected as possible into new positions within the district.
Certified teachers are guaranteed a position, while the professional staff are not — though teachers may have to move to a different school where an opening is available.
The district began notifying affected employees Feb. 1. Assistant Superintendent Justin Wing said the district wanted to make clear to everyone that losing their job was not due to their performance.
He added that MPS wanted to notify employees as early as possible so they can begin preparing.
The MPS Human Resources Department is holding an information session for professional staff Feb. 20, when district staff and representatives from Mesa Educational Support Personnel Association will be available to provide resources and information.
"There are jobs that are open now," Wing said for employees to move into other roles in the district.
Giving one example of actions the district is taking to help employees facing job loss, Wing said it is offering support personnel free access to online materials needed to earn a paraprofessional certification, which may be required for some open positions.
Board President Marcie Hutchinson requested a follow-up report on the district's efforts to assist employees and move them into new jobs.
She said that the board has historically done everything it could to retain staff.
"Gosh darn, if we could keep (employees) during COVID, we can keep them now," Hutchinson said.
Based on past Tribune coverage, the last time the district planned comparable job reductions appears to be 2009, when it cut 310 positions, including more than 200 teachers.