The Stillwater Public Schools have laid out a clear plan for the challenging budget revisions set to unfurl in the coming year, drawing concerns from parents who fear the repercussions on educational support, especially in areas of special education. As reported byFOX 25, the cuts aim to mitigate a budget shortfall of approximately $5.5 million.
Acting Superintendent Janet Vinson stated, “We’re keeping them as far away from the classroom as possible,” although parental concerns continue to grow. Saralynn Boren, a parent, expressed her worries in an interview withKOCO, saying, “I m not sure that they re making the right cuts. To directly attempt to address misinformation about the process, Stillwater Public Schools released details of the targeted reductions planned to take hold in the 2025-2026 school year.
According to theSTW News Press, the board’s approved reductions include a 16% cut to administrative support, a 4% cut to certified teachers, and significant reductions to guidance counseling and instructional support. Amidst the outcry, especially from the special education community, the district asserts that these measures do not equate to a reduction in special education teachers themselves.
In the midst of this fiscal tightening, the district’s CFO Kristie Newby has highlighted the disproportion in Stillwater Public Schools’s payroll expenses compared to other similarly sized districts, by approximately $10 million. “It is crucial to reduce expenses, both one-time and recurring, Newby insisted, to ensure financial stability and adherence to required fund balance percentages. She also divulged plans to streamline and clarify budget management within the district during the board meeting, indicating a strategic move towards heightened accountability, as perSTW News Press.
Meanwhile, parents like Ashley Kirven-Bobier remain unconvinced by the potential of these cuts to avoid impacting students like her special needs son. She toldFOX 25, “These proposed cuts would leave children like my son struggling and left behind.” The district, however, remains steadfast in their commitment to minimize the impact of the budget cuts on the classroom experience and on teachers’ abilities to effectively support their students in the wake of diminished federal pandemic-era relief funds.
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