Duluth school district sets timeline for layoffs

Teachers welcome students to school — Piedmont Elementary staff welcome students to their first day of school Sept. 5. Duluth Public Schools is planning staff layoffs.

By Katie Rohman

January 14, 2025 at 7:16 PM

DULUTH — Duluth school district staff will learn Jan. 27-30 whether they will be laid off.

The district is reducing 8% of its staff as part of $5 million in budget cuts for 2025-26. The district slashed an additional $2.6 million for the current school year.

Human resources staff will make final determinations Jan. 21-24 about who will be laid off. Principals and supervisors will be notified Jan. 27 and will contact affected staff Jan. 27-30. Human resources will send displacement letters Jan. 31.

The district attributes the need for cuts to the June 30 expiration of federal pandemic relief funds, inflation, unfunded legislative mandates and employee contract settlements.

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Superintendent John Magas said during the committee-of-the-whole meeting Tuesday night that administrators have been meeting with the Duluth Federation of Teachers throughout budget reduction planning.

Vice Chair Jill Lofald, a retired teacher, reminded officials and staff to “have a lot of grace and understanding during this process.”

“This happens in lots of districts,” she said. “I do know how difficult reductions and reassignments are.”

Affected staff will have the opportunity to attend open houses to ask questions about the layoffs and learn about resources, Magas said.

About the Duluth School Board

The Duluth School Board’s regular meetings are on the third Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m., unless otherwise scheduled, at the District Service Center, 709 Portia Johnson Drive, on the former Duluth Central High School campus. Meetings are also livestreamed and recorded for later viewing at youtube.com/@DuluthSchools.

Loeffler-Kemp, Rosie.jpg — Rosie Loeffler-Kemp

District 1: Rosie Loeffler-Kemp

Represents: Duluth city precincts 1-5, 7; City of Rice Lake; Gnesen, Lakewood, Normanna, North Star townships; unorganized precincts 2, 23
Term expires: Jan. 5, 2026
Contact: 218-341-2014, rosalie.loefflerkemp@isd709.org

District 2: Sarah Mikesell, clerk

Represents: Duluth city precincts 6, 8-14
Term expires: Jan. 3, 2028
Contact: 218-206-6932, sarah.mikesell@isd709.org

District 3: Henry Banks

Represents: Duluth city precincts 15-19, 22-25
Term expires: Jan. 3, 2028
Contact: 218-461-1690, henry.banks@isd709.org

District 4: Jill Lofald, vice chairperson

Represents: Duluth city precincts 21, 26-30, 32-34
Term expires: Jan. 5, 2026
Contact: 218-391-4696, jill.lofald@isd709.org

110321.N.DNT.SKULBOARD.C05.JPG — Kelly Durick Eder.

At large: Kelly Durick Eder, chairperson

Represents: All Duluth city precincts; City of Rice Lake; Gnesen, Lakewood, Normanna, North Star townships; unorganized precincts 2, 23
Term expires: Jan. 5, 2026
Contact: 701-741-6003, kelly.durickeder@isd709.org

Stephanie Williams_Duluth School Board candidate — Stephanie Williams

At large: Stephanie Williams

Represents: All Duluth city precincts; City of Rice Lake; Gnesen, Lakewood, Normanna, North Star townships; unorganized precincts 2, 23
Term expires: Jan. 3, 2028
Contact: 218-260-2957, stephanie.williams@isd709.org

At large: Amber Sadowski, treasurer

By Katie Rohman

Katie Rohman is the managing editor of the Duluth News Tribune. She started with Duluth Media Group in 2017 as regional editor of the Superior Telegram, Pine Journal, Lake County News-Chronicle, Eastern Observer and Western Weekly. She has worked in newspapers around the Midwest since 2004.

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