Natural attrition, non-classroom layoffs and transferring staff to vacant positions instead of hiring has resulted in a decrease of about 200 positions in the Monroe County Community School Corp. If the positions remain unfilled it could potentially save the corporation around $7 million annually, MCCSC Superintendent Markay Winston said during a board meeting Tuesday.
“To not take the steps that we have taken in the last five months would have been irresponsible at best and negligent at worst,” Winston said.
These steps are a part of a two-year strategy to address the budget gap between revenue and expenses. MCCSC is expected to lose $22.4 million in 2025 due to declining enrollment. However, payroll expenses have increased $28.6 million over the last few years.
“As our student enrollment decreased from 2020 through 2024, our staffing levels did not go down to match our declining enrollment,” Winston said.
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The corporation has experienced a 10-12 percent annual natural attrition rate through retirements and resignations for several years which is why the strategy was selected, she said. Additionally, there were unnecessary positions, like ones made in response to the Covid-19 pandemic which has played a role in the decrease of positions.
In May, about 60 non-classroom positions were eliminated. In June MCCSC announced no teachers would be laid off for this 2025-2026 school year.
It is expected that MCCSC’s state funding may be reduced by about $17 million over the next three years due to actions in this year’s legislature. Other public schools in the state are facing similar challenges.
The next board meeting is Aug. 26 and the first day of school is Aug. 6.
