A pending reduction in force at Richmond Community Schools came to pass during a special 5 p.m. RCS board of trustees meeting Monday, June 29.
Citing budgetary constraints from state legislation constraining property tax income, officials put 19 certified teachers and classified staff and four administrative roles throughout the district up for cutting. An initial RIF plan impacting performing arts staff and programs was rescinded following community pushback at an April 14 school board meeting.
With no public commentary, President Austin Brann requested a motion to approve the reduction in force. Board member Kym Pickering made a motion to approve the RIF with the modification to vote on cutting Chief of Operations Stacy Mopps’s position as a separate action item. The motion for modification failed 3-2 with members Aaron Stevens, Kristen Brunton and Brann voting no; Pickering and Secretary Michael Elorreaga voted yes.
Brunton made a motion to approve the RIF as presented and Stevens seconded it. Before a vote, Brunton said how incredibly difficult the decision was, realizing it impacts staff, employees and students. But she said it’s a decision necessary to ensure that “the school remains fiscally sound” and that RCS “continues to offer excellent education.”
Elorreaga read a statement disagreeing with the elimination of the chief of operations position. He said that while he understands the savings, he feels it is “poor oversight” that will place more work on already “overworked” administrators, principals and teachers, which ultimately impacts students.
RCS’ Operations Department oversees transportation, technology, facilities, food and health services and Civic Hall Performing Arts Center. Once removed, the position cannot be backfilled. The role’s two-year contract requires a salary payment for another year.
“Districts our size do not eliminate that role,” Elorreaga said.
Pickering agreed the change would make transitions involved in the district’s upcoming execution of its strategic plan more difficult.
Vice President Nicole Stults asked Director of Human Resources Steve Hensley to explain how the role was included in the RIF. Hensley said the administrative restructuring was based on recommendations from the board.
After the discussion, the RIF was approved 4-2 with Pickering and Elorreaga voting against. The HR consent item for the administrative reassignments was approved 6-0 and the meeting adjourned at 5:21 p.m.
Mopps is being reassigned to science teacher at Test, effective Aug. 3. He previously served as Test’s principal.
Other administrative reassignments were Zachary Smith from Dennis Middle School adjunct counselor to Hibberd behavior specialist; Director of Finance Melissa Swafford to deputy treasurer; and William Wright, middle school athletic director to Dennis social studies teacher.
Certified position cuts included English, social studies, Spanish and science teachers at Richmond High, and two math teachers and an interventionist at Dennis.
Classified positions removed are an RHS adjunct math teacher; an administrative assistant to student behavior each at Hibberd and Fairview, Vaile, and Starr Elementary Schools; a Westview behavioral specialist; and part-time adjunct digital media and physical education teachers at Test.
Three additional separations were Daniel Cox as RHS event manager and assistant varsity cross country coach; Rachel Etherington, RHS assistant athletic director; and Coleton Everman, RHS varsity assistant football coach.
A RIF plan had been ready for submission to the board three weeks ago, tentatively appearing on the June 17 meeting’s agenda. However, the RIF and HR consent items were removed the day of the meeting after the board expressed wanting more time for final discussion before a vote. The discussion took place at a closed executive session on Wednesday, June 24.
The RIF follows a majority no-confidence vote in the board from the Richmond Education Association. WWN reported May 25 that the teachers union cited concerns with leadership, fiscal management and communication.
A version of this article will appear in the July 8 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
