RIVERSIDE — The Mad River Board of Education voted to cut a half dozen jobs after the district discussed the plan last month during a public meeting.
Board members voted four-to-one to let go of five school therapists and an art teacher.
Each job cut has direct involvement with kids in the district.
“It’s definitely nerve-wracking to see what is to come,” said Randi Johnson, a parent at Mad River Schools.
Johnson’s son has ADHD, and she said he has benefitted from the district’s therapy program.
“Mark Ward has been with my youngest son since he started in the district, and he had some issues elevating to get to third grade, and he was with him along the way,” Johnson said.
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During the meeting, the board said eliminating jobs was a tough decision. But it had to be done for financial reasons.
“I understand that financially these need to happen, but you’re also now jeopardizing stability of the kids,” said Johnson.
Board member AJ Ricker said, “our solutions to budget-balancing never reach a point in which we have to even consider staff reduction as an option.”
The school board said it will save money by contracting out the five therapist jobs.
The six employees will officially lose their jobs on August 1.
The district said because it has fewer students enrolled, they are losing $880,000 in state funding. And because of that, it can no longer afford the six salaries.
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Mad River Education’s Association President Amy Holbrook said, “we don’t know what to expect next year and how to support our students moving forward.”
The mad river union rep called this decision poorly timed.
“Just giving our students multiple opportunities to figure out how to continue to move forward after this pandemic is essential that those staff members are no longer going to exist and be there for them,” said Holbrook.
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