Keith Mitchell graduated from Tumwater High School in 1989. Since 2004, he’s worked as a percussion instructor at both high schools and both middle schools in the Tumwater School District.
Among his responsibilities, Mitchell develops the district’s percussion curriculum, maintains all of the equipment between four schools and instructs over 340 students each year.
In February, the district told Mitchell that his position was going to be cut — one of 60 positions the school district intends to eliminate in the face of budget woes.
“I just didn’t see it coming at all. It was really out of the blue,” Mitchell said. “I mean, we all knew that there were some budget issues going on. I served so many students that I never, ever thought that I would be on that list.”
James Harper, the band director at Tumwater Middle School, said uncertainty surrounding Mitchell’s position has band programs scrambling to prepare for the upcoming school year.
“Enrollment in band at my school next year is projected to be 176 students, which, to my knowledge, is the most ever at Tumwater Middle School,” Harper said. “Currently, with Keith there, we have a student- to-teacher ratio of 20 to 1 average across all the band classes. If he’s gone next year, then my student to teacher ratio will be over double what it is right now.”
He said directors are developing two plans for the upcoming year in hope that Mitchell’s position might be saved.
“We now have to come up with at least two different plans for next year, like, what is it going to look like?” he said. “We’re trying to develop a plan for what it looks like if Mr. Mitchell is here in the fall, and also if he’s not. I mean, if he’s not here, it’s certainly going to be a greatly increased workload.”
“Hopefully we can throw that plan in the garbage,” he said.
Alongside students who have addressed the school board to advocate for saving Mitchell’s position, Mitchell and Harper have urged band families and students to continue speaking out.
“We’re not done fighting this yet, and I hope you’re not done because Mr. Mitchell is an incredible person, an incredible teacher, and we need to keep him here,” Harper said as he addressed the audience at a Tumwater Middle School band concert earlier this month.
The Tumwater School District is set to eliminate 60 staff positions this year, including 27 certificated teachers. This move comes after the district ran a deficit of over $4.5 million during the 2023-2024 school year.
Spokesperson Laurie Wiedenmeyer explained that these cuts were a part of a district effort to hit $6.5 million in budget reductions and balance the budget.
“Every position that was affected represents a person whose work is highly valued, and the impacts of these reductions are far-reaching and deeply felt throughout our school community,” she wrote.
While administration is far from eager to let go of staff, the district anticipates another $4 million deficit after the 2024-2025 school year, according to director of finance and operations Kira Acker, who spoke with The Olympian.
State funding is distributed by a standardized formula based on enrollment, but the Tumwater School District said they were underfunded by 40 students. To address budget issues, the school board agreed on a plan earlier this year to eliminate the operating deficit and generate a small operating surplus through more than $6 million in cuts.
Departments across the district will feel the impacts of these cuts, from administrators and teachers to athletics and custodial staff.
As for Mitchell, the district said the percussion instructor position will be eliminated, but Mitchell can still be involved with the band programs.
“While his current role is being cut, we want to be clear that Keith will continue to be employed in the Tumwater School District. There is no doubt that Keith’s work in our district is valued and has made a lasting impact on multitudes of students over the years and we appreciate them advocating for his position to be maintained,” Wiedenmeyer said.
Mitchell said he is unsure whether he can accept the district’s terms: The district offered him marching band stipends for the upcoming year.
“It’s the marching band stipends that they assume that I will be able to accept when I don’t know what next week looks like,” he said. “You know, they’ve really left me completely out to dry. At the same time, I’ve got to spend the next two months focused, like I have every single year, on the marching band show that needs to be taught in August.”
While Mitchell said he recognizes the implications of TSD’s budget issues, he said the district is making the wrong decision by cutting his position.
“I believe these are all really good people who have to make incredibly difficult decisions. I really do, and I’ve never, from the beginning, never wanted to try to place myself on the opposite side of them…,” he said. “And I’m a team player, team member. I’m willing to do whatever I can to help. I’m just not willing to throw my position on the table to sacrifice.”
Harper said students have the most to lose if the district decides to cut Mitchell’s position.
“Unfortunately, the ones who are going to suffer the most from this are going to be the kids, because Keith is a professional. He will find work. But really, the ones who are going to pay the dearest price are our students,” he said.
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