Schools
Staff Cuts on Tonight's West Des Moines School Board Agenda
Parents have been buzzing this week that the district's music program was facing cuts. The agenda for Monday proposes cutting reading positions, the Japanese language program and some elementary teaching jobs.
The West Des Moines school board will discuss staff reductions at its Monday meeting, the Des Moines Register reports.
Proposed cuts include:
- Cutting five reading teacher positions and adding five instructional coaching positions
- Not filling spots left open by attrition, including in Valley High School’s well-regarded band and vocal music offerings
- Eliminating the high school’s Japanese language program
- Reducing elementary teacher jobs at low-enrollment schools.
The agenda posted on the district website says the board will review and/or approve the cuts Monday.
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District spokeswoman Elaine Watkins-Miller told the Register the cuts are needed to fill an unspecified budget shortfall.
The meeting begins at 7:15 p.m. at the Learning Resource Center, 3550 Mills Civic Parkway in West Des Moines. The staff cuts item is slated for discussion at 9:15, according to the agenda.
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