Proposed Reduction in Force (Central Office/Central Services)

This message was sent to all CHCCS staff and families on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. It is an update to our July 19 communication on the district’s financial situation.

Thursday night, at our Aug. 15 regular meeting, the Board of Education received a proposed plan for immediate spending reductions. As a result of declining student enrollment and the corresponding loss of per-pupil funding, as well as additional financial challenges that we have shared publicly for the past two years, district administration has developed what’s known as a “Reduction in Force” (or “RIF”) plan. This plan, which calls for immediate cuts to central administration (sometimes referred to as “Lincoln Center”) will be presented in greater detail during a public Special Call meeting of the Board on Wednesday, Aug. 21.

In short, the proposed plan initially involves the immediate reduction of 24 full-time central office positions. Some of these are vacant positions, and others are currently filled with caring and dedicated staff members whose work is important to the success of our district. Earlier today, district leadership notified employees who are impacted by this proposal in a series of individual meetings. Each employee was offered the opportunity to transfer into another open position elsewhere in the district, including open positions that directly serve students in our schools. At this time, employees are being provided time and space to process and decide on their next steps.

While this is a most difficult day for our district and its staff, we regret to say that our spending reductions are not yet complete. Back in the spring, we implemented “Tier One” cuts, which reduced certain school-based positions by not filling the vacancies once individuals retired or left CHCCS for other reasons. Now, as shared above, we are currently proposing to implement what’s known as “Tier Two”. Later, the Board will also be asked to consider “Tier Three” cuts, which will again reduce school-based positions through attrition by the end of June next year. More details on Tier Three will be shared by this time next week, but please know that our goal remains to preserve student-facing positions to the maximum extent possible.

Why is this happening? We are working to restructure our school district for long-term sustainability given the realities of our dropping enrollment, funding formulas, inflationary factors and more. While it breaks our hearts to recommend and consider these cuts, we are also calling on one another to support our staff and students as we carry out our educational mission, knowing that it will be a tremendous challenge. 

Together, we will ensure that our district remains strong and resilient, providing the best possible environment for our students to learn, grow, and thrive.

We thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

George W. Griffin, Ph.D., Board Chair

Riza Jenkins, J.D., M.B.A., Board Vice Chair

Nyah D. Hamlett, Ed. D., Superintendent

🔄 Get caught up (examples of prior communications and public meetings/discussions):

• October 2022: School Budget “Cliff”: A Message from the CHCCS Board of Education

• October 2022: Superintendent’s Community Update

• October 2022: Board member Riza Jenkins interviewed on WCHL radio

• May 2023: Superintendent’s Community Update

• September 2023: Board of Education Meeting (Financial Results of FY 2022-23)

• November 2023: Board of Education Meeting (Audit Report)

• February 1, 2024: Board of Education meeting (Budget development overview)

• February 15, 2024: Board of Education meeting (Q2 Amendments and Q2 Financial Statement; Corrective Action Plan)

• March 7, 2024: Board of Education meeting (Superintendent’s Proposed Local Operating Budget Request)

• April 11, 2024: Board of Education meeting (FY 2024-25 Local Operating Budget Request)

• April 18, 2024: Board of Education meeting (Approval of FY 2024-25 Local Operating Budget Request)

• May 16, 2024: Board of Education meeting (FY 2024-25 Budget Development Update and Draft Allotment Formulas)

• June 6, 2024: Board of Education meeting (FY 2024-25 Budget Development Update and Draft Allotment Formulas)

• July 15, 2024: Board members George Griffin and Riza Jenkins interviewed on WCHL radio.

• July 19, 2024: CHCCS Financial Update (Communication to CHCCS staff and families)