ELY — The Ely school board voted unanimously Monday to cut positions and reduce hours across multiple departments as initial steps to close a roughly $600,000 budget gap. The changes will occur at the end of the school year.
The reductions, adopted 6-0 on a roll call vote, touch several departments. Science, English, and social studies each saw teaching reductions from 1.0 to .80 full-time equivalent, while the math department faces a deeper cut from 1.0 to .60 FTE. A media specialist position is also reduced from 1.0 to .80 FTE, and one K-6 teaching position was eliminated entirely.
Support staff hours were also cut as the district transitions to a four-day school week. Two custodians will move to Monday-through-Thursday schedules, paraprofessionals will see reduced student contact days with adjusted start and end times, bus drivers face similar reductions, and a secretary will drop from 200 to 176 work days. The assistant principal position is eliminated outright.
In a separate action, the board approved a master agreement with the Ely Education Association covering 2025-2027, which includes a memorandum of understanding for a four-day school week, the scheduling change district officials say is essential to reducing expenses.
Board member Tom Omerza praised the administration’s communication throughout what he called a difficult process.
“The amount of communication has been very much appreciated,” he said. “I feel well informed and I’m hoping the public community feels well informed.” Board chair Rochelle Sjoberg echoed the sentiment, thanking staff for their patience and effort.
The board also approved a 2026-27 school calendar starting before Labor Day. Grades 1-12 will have their first day on Aug. 31, and kindergartners will start Sept. 3. The board also took several individual staffing actions including placing assistant principal Jeff Carey on leave and reassigning him to a special education teaching role for next year and not renewing a probationary teacher’s contract.