Editor's note: The video above was originally published in April 2019.
Tacoma Public Schools announced Wednesday that 31 employees will no longer work for the district after August 2019. The district cited budget reductions as the reason for the layoffs.
The layoffs include nine administrators and central support staff, nine certified employees, and 13 non-certified school-based staff, according to the district. The nine administrators and central staff layoffs are in addition to the 43 positions eliminated earlier this year.
“It is with tremendous sadness that any employee receives a reduction in force or layoff notification, and we ask for sensitivity and understanding as these changes are carried out,” the district said in an email to staff and parents.
An estimated $13 million in one-time funding will be used to balance the 2019-2020 school year budget and reduce the number of employee layoffs.
The district said it expects to face another round of budget reductions in the 2020-2021 school year.
“Wrestling with the effects of position eliminations and the loss of many of our colleagues over the last year has been difficult. Through it all, we have maintained our focus on the best interests of students. We will continue to do so as we work toward the School Board’s adoption of the district’s final 2019-2020 school year budget in August,” the district said.