RCS plans to cut teachers, change programs

Richmond Community Schools officials notified some teachers across the school district this week that their contracts are likely not being renewed, and set in motion program changes that will affect the student experience in the years ahead.

Through word of mouth, text messages and meetings with administrators, RCS educators are slowly learning about the probable fate of their colleagues. Building leadership and human resources representatives went from classroom to classroom to break the news to what at least one source estimated is close to 30 affected employees, with eight likely affected positions at the high school alone.

The intended cuts have not been announced by RCS officials and WWN’s request for comment sent Friday morning has not yet received a response.

During public commentary at Richmond Community Schools’ March 18 board meeting, Richmond Education Association President Jay Lee referred to what he called the “ugly” and “painful” financial reality that he says RCS will face in coming weeks.

Lee didn’t address any specific forthcoming announcements, but indicated his concerns were based on conversations with individual departments and school leaders, and the board’s recent actions around updating policies for making reductions in force.

In a letter shared with WWN, Lee notified RCS Superintendent Curtis Wright that REA hadn’t been notified of an RCS plan to move the Creative Arts team from the elementary school.

According to a policy change approved March 18, teachers whose jobs are being cut are to receive notification about their possible contract cancellation between May 1 and July 1. 

Lee told the board that he blames the need to cut any employees on the Indiana General Assembly. “It’s not our fault, not your fault, it’s their fault, but we’re the ones who’ve got to pay,” Lee said.

Indiana State Teachers Association said the property tax overhaul in the 2025 Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 1 cuts $190 million from public schools by 2026 and $330 million by 2028 while forcing public schools to share tax dollars with charter schools. In addition, RCS faces declining enrollment, which hurts as tuition dollars follow students.

Anticipating cuts and wanting to keep as many teachers employed as possible, Lee asked the board to consider cutting administrative positions. He said seven administrators have been added in the last 10 years paying approximately $100,000 each and called some of those jobs duplicates. He also suggested reviewing consultant contracts and cutting car allowances and cell phone plans.

Scope of planned cuts

WWN spoke with several individuals familiar with the situation who indicated that specific position cuts are coming. WWN is not using their names because they were not authorized to speak about internal communications and were concerned about their own employment. 

Based on provided information, the planned cuts at the high school appear to include an English teacher, two social studies teachers, a Spanish teacher, a science teacher, and a decision not to replace two retiring math teachers.

WWN has also learned that RCS is planning to eliminate three of its 10 music teaching positions.

RCS currently has three elementary music teachers, one middle choir director, two middle school band directors (one who also does middle school orchestra), one Richmond High School choir director, two RHS band directors (both also teach middle school band), and one grades 6-12 orchestra director. 

WWN has learned that the RHS choir director, and Test Intermediate band/orchestra director and general music teacher, could be cut and covered by reassigned elementary music teachers. The RHS assistant band director/steel band director/assistant beginning band director at Test position could be eliminated entirely.

Course fees

Also at the March 18 meeting, the board approved music course lab fees. According to a memo from Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education Sam Pritchard, fees were developed in collaboration with the music department and finance office to offset rising costs of residual expenses for maintaining current musical offerings.

Indiana no longer allows schools to charge families for curricular materials (previously called book fees), but they can charge for consumable materials used in science courses, or repair and maintenance of equipment that students used in music courses.

RHS students will pay $40 per year for instrument courses; middle schoolers will pay $35. Students will pay $60 to rent an RCS-owned instrument. Choral students will pay $30 annually.

School officials said they don’t want fees to block students interested in music courses. Assistance such as payment plans could be available.

Chris Hardie contributed to this article.