The Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board voted at its April 13 meeting to approve reductions in staffing and discontinue some programs for the 2026-27 school year.
The cuts are part of the district’s $4.15 million budget reduction plan that has been discussed over the course of the past few months, resulting in serious concerns expressed by members of the board and residents.
On a positive note, however, two budget cuts discussed at earlier board meetings were reversed in the adjusted budget plan reviewed during the meeting.
The staffing change that involved cutting one full-time choir position at Prior Lake High School was brought back as a half-time position. The school will continue to have a full-time choir teacher, and a second teacher will split their time between the high school and middle school, allowing key choir programming at both locations. Another budget revision approved that night allowed the district to reinstate band lessons at the middle school level.
A major point of discussion at the previous board meeting involved pleas from both parents and several board members to reconsider elimination of the 6th-grade Spanish immersion program, designed for continued learning as students progressed at each grade level. The board approved reinstating the program and the reversal now ensures that all students enrolled in the program can continue in the immersion pathway at each grade level.
Board discussion took on a somber note as Executive Director of Administrative Services Rob Cothern presented three resolutions that covered the proposed reductions in staff. He acknowledged that the process was complicated since some staff members who were being laid off may qualify to be hired for other positions within the district based on seniority and other contractual obligations.
Prior to sharing the proposals, he stated, “I want to begin by acknowledging that behind each item you see tonight is a person. Someone who has contributed to our schools, our students and our community. And we truly value the work these individuals have given to Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools, and we are grateful for their service.”
The first vote was on a resolution that outlined the positions that were being reduced or eliminated across the district. Cothern said the reductions were due to declining enrollment, the district’s financial limitations and program adjustments. The resolution listed 16 positions that were set to be reduced or eliminated.
The second vote related to 16 Unrequested Leaves of Absence (ULA) across the district. The administrator, teachers and district staff that were placed on ULA held the positions that were listed on the first resolution. When an individual is placed on ULA, they are given the opportunity to come back to the position if it is reinstated in the future.
The third vote was on the non-renewal of contracts for 33 probationary teachers. PLSAS teachers serve a three-year probationary period when first employed by the district. The resolution stated that these non-renewals were based on several factors, including but not limited to, long-term substitute contracts, reduction in sections, licensure criteria or permission requirements.
Board members questioned and discussed the specifics of the reductions but also acknowledged the district’s ongoing financial challenges.
“We are not like a lot of other districts. We are second to last, or last, in funding,” Mary Frantz, board member, said. “When you don’t have money, you have to make some really, really hard decisions.”
The board passed all three resolutions, each with a 4-3 vote. Board members Jessica Mason, Charles Johnson and Lisa Atkinson voted against the resolutions. Frantz, Jessica Olstad, Dustin Smith and Board Chair Amy Bullyan voted to approve the resolutions.
