The Twin Falls School District will not need to carry out a formal reduction in force, Superintendent Brady Dickinson told the school board Monday night, announcing that the district was able to eliminate 18 positions through natural staff departures and retirements alone.
The news marked a positive turn from April, when trustees adopted a resolution authorizing Dickinson to direct a workforce reduction of between 18.5 and 21 staff positions. At the time, uncertainty remained about how many students would transfer to Elevate Academy — a new charter school set to open in Twin Falls this fall — following the school’s enrollment lottery.
“I’m happy to report that we are not going to have to let anybody go as part of the RIF,” Dickinson said at the board meeting. He described the outcome as something worth celebrating, noting that in January he would not have believed it possible to shed 18 secondary positions without a single layoff.
Enrollment Decline Driving Staffing Decisions
The staffing reductions reflect a sustained drop in student enrollment across the district. Twin Falls enrolled 9,412 students during the 2021-22 school year. That number has fallen steadily since, reaching 8,774 this school year — a loss of more than 600 students over four years.
The opening of Elevate Academy is expected to accelerate that trend, as the charter school will draw students away from district schools. Dickinson noted that the charter school will add a grade level next year, and he anticipates a smaller incoming kindergarten class as well.
More Reductions Expected Next Year
While Monday’s announcement was welcome news, Dickinson cautioned trustees not to view it as a one-time challenge. He told the board the district will likely need to reduce additional positions in the coming school year, though the scale should be smaller.
“I don’t think you’re going to be cutting 18 positions again,” Dickinson said, adding that the district will “probably still be in a position where we need to reduce a few positions.”
Trustees did not publicly comment on the superintendent’s update during the board meeting.
What Comes Next
District administrators will continue monitoring enrollment figures as Elevate Academy completes its pre-opening preparations and finalizes student rosters ahead of the fall semester. Dickinson has signaled that budget and staffing planning for the 2026-27 school year will need to account for further enrollment softness, particularly at the kindergarten level. The Twin Falls School District board is expected to revisit staffing and budget questions in the months ahead as enrollment projections become clearer.
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