MOSES LAKE, Wash. — Video above is from May 30, 2024
Moses Lake School District announced they have notified an additional 55 employees they are being laid off. According to the district the layoffs are in an effort to balance their budget after an $11 million accounting error.
The district says the impacted employees include technology specialists, custodians, maintenance staff, paraeducators and secretaries.
Interim Superintendent Carol Lewis expressed the difficulty of making these decisions, emphasizing the value and dedication of the classified staff. "Our classified employees are integral to the functioning of our schools, and this decision was not made lightly. We deeply regret the necessity of these reductions and are fully aware of the hardship they impose on our dedicated staff and their families.”
RELATED: Moses Lake school district faces second round of layoffs due to $11 million accounting error
The most recent notification brings the reduction in workforce to 268 employees across all different employee groups in the Moses Lake School District. According to the district, since the end of May, the following staffing reductions have been made:
- District Office: 12.5 positions, resulting in savings of $1,134,383. More positions will likely be reduced through attrition in the coming months.
- Building Administrators: 4.5 positions, resulting in savings of $730,307.
- MLEA (Moses Lake Education Association): Initially 119 positions, 11 non-renewal notices for special education teachers and school counselors have been recently rescinded, reducing the total to 108 positions and a savings of $10,812,662.
- PSE (Public School Employees): 143 positions, resulting in savings of $7,121,307.
The district says despite the layoffs, they still need to balance the budget by an additional $3.6 million. The district’s final budget is due before the Moses Lake School Board for approval in August.
According to a press release, if the district fails to create a balanced budget by the deadline, it will automatically enter binding conditions with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction resulting in less local control.
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