r/LakewoodColorado

Not sure how many of you have been following the Jeffco budget situation, but a local reporter got the internal planning documents through a CORA request and the findings are worth knowing about — especially if you have kids in Jeffco schools.

The short version: the district's two most prominent leadership cuts (deputy superintendent and an executive assistant) were positions that were already vacant. Nobody in leadership actually lost a job. Meanwhile, 136 teachers are being cut across 145 schools, along with 10+ counselors, social workers, psychologists, and nearly 500 hours of paraprofessional support.

The district has publicly said it's cutting $14 million from school budgets. It's never provided a comparable number for how much it's cutting from central administration.

Board Director Tina Moenian challenged this on the record at the March 12 meeting and asked for a side-by-side breakdown of school cuts vs. central office cuts. Two other board members backed her up.

Full breakdown is in this week's Class Notes newsletter (free, covers Jeffco education): https://cotlns-newsletter-education.beehiiv.com/p/jeffco-cut-teachers-see-who-it-spared

Has anyone heard how this is playing out at specific Arvada schools? Curious what families are being told.

For anyone with kids in Jeffco schools or who just wants to know where your tax dollars are going — a local education reporter obtained the district's internal Budget Reduction Blueprint documents through a public records request this week.

Key findings:

• The district promised cuts would fall "as far from students as possible"
• The two leadership positions cut from central office were both already empty — no one in leadership actually lost their job
• At the school level: 136 teachers, 10+ counselors, ~8 SEL specialists, 5+ social workers/psychologists, and 494 hours of paraprofessional support are being cut across 145 schools
• The district says it's cutting $14M from schools but has never stated how much it's cutting from central admin in comparable terms
• Central administration grew ~40% over the last four years while enrollment dropped 5%

A board member asked for a clear accounting of central office vs. school-level cuts. It hasn't been provided.

Source is this week's Class Notes newsletter, which covers Jeffco education and is free: https://cotlns-newsletter-education.beehiiv.com/p/jeffco-cut-teachers-see-who-it-spared

Anyone in Lakewood hearing specifics about what your school is losing? Some schools are reportedly choosing between their counselor and two teachers.