After weeks of planning and work sessions, Nettle Creek Schools’ board approved a series of staffing and budget reductions during a May 27 special meeting. They said the changes are focused on “right-sizing” the district ahead of the 2026-27 school year in response to financial challenges and lower enrollment.
Superintendent Emily Schaeffer outlined more than $612,000 in planned education fund savings aimed at addressing a projected $623,000 gap between revenue and expenditures. Two teaching contracts were canceled, one at the junior-senior high school and one at the elementary school, saving approximately $104,638.
Other reductions include leaving one retirement and three resignations unfilled, saving about $316,881, along with eliminating six instructional assistant positions and not replacing a technology assistant resignation for an additional $143,523 in savings.
The district also plans to reduce professional development spending by $28,000 while shifting another $19,000 in costs to grant funding, producing a combined savings of $47,000.
Schaeffer said projected elementary class sizes next year are expected to range between 19 and 23 students, although enrollment changes over the summer could affect those figures.
In the operations fund, the district identified additional reductions including eliminating paid student maintenance worker positions in favor of work-based learning opportunities, reducing advertising and promotional spending, trimming maintenance appropriations, discontinuing transportation to vocational school programs, and cutting one full-time and three part-time custodial positions.
Schaeffer thanked district staff and the community for its engagement with the process leading to the changes.
“We understand the weight they carry for our staff, our families, our students, and our community. Please know that every choice was made with long-term health of our district as a primary goal,” Schaeffer said.
Despite the reductions, district officials said another $57,000 in operations cuts still must be identified for the operations fund and another $11,000 must be identified in the education fund.
Board members acknowledged the emotional impact of the decisions on employees and families. Board Secretary Julie Blaase said the reductions reflect “a failure of a flawed system” driven by legislative pressures and declining enrollment rather than employee performance or dedication.
Board President Shaun Lieberman said the board searched hard for alternatives before making the cuts, emphasizing that the difficult decisions were necessary to preserve the district’s long-term stability.
The board later unanimously approved the personnel recommendations, including the two teacher contract cancellations, by a 6-0 vote. Board member Marcie Houghton did not attend.
The board’s next meeting is 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, at Hagerstown Elementary School’s LGI Room, 299 N. Sycamore St., Hagerstown. The public may attend.
A version of this article will appear in the June 3 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.