St. Paul Schools Leave 12 Jobs Empty to Cover $5M Deficit

St. Paul Public Schools will leave 12 positions unfilled as of this month in an effort to bridge a nearly $5 million budget gap. The school board approved the measure on Friday by a 6-1 vote, ending a negotiation cycle with the teachers' union that produced a stopgap solution rather than a permanent fix.

The vacancy list includes two English learner teachers and seven educational assistants. Additionally, as many as a dozen English learner teachers are expected to take early retirements under the new financial structure. District leaders and union representatives agreed that these personnel changes, combined with re-enrollments and other budgeting adjustments, are necessary to close the shortfall for the current cycle.

Erica Schatzlein, the lead negotiator for the teachers, described the situation as difficult. She noted that probationary teachers are facing the prospect of losing their jobs by the spring. Schatzlein stated that the current agreement allows these staff members to finish the remainder of the school year, but she called the arrangement a temporary band-aid rather than a true solution.

The financial strain stems largely from a decline in student enrollment. The district cited the immigration crackdown earlier this year as a primary factor, noting that more than 500 English learner students have left the system. Each departure reduces the federal funding attached to those students, deepening the overall deficit.

Superintendent Stacie Stanley addressed the demographic challenges directly. She stated that the district is being honest about the birth rate decline in the city, which has altered the long-term financial outlook. The board’s decision provides the administration more time to determine next steps, though it mandates staffing reductions by the end of the academic year depending on final retirement numbers.

To counter the enrollment drop, Stanley said the district has partnered with an outside organization to recruit new students. The goal is to bring families back into the system to stabilize future revenue streams. The current plan serves as a bridge while that recruitment effort takes shape.

The board’s vote concludes the immediate budget crisis for the current fiscal period. However, the district remains in a position where long-term structural changes are still required to maintain staffing levels and educational services.