The Twin Falls School District will not have to make a reduction in force after trustees last month authorized the superintendent to do so.

Superintendent Brady Dickinson on Monday night told the school board that the district could cut 18 positions through attrition from staff departures and retirements.

“If you asked me in January if we were going to be able to reduce 18 secondary positions without doing a (reduction in force), I would have never believed it,” Dickinson said. “But it worked out.”

Trustees on April 6 adopted a resolution that authorized Dickinson to implement and direct a reduction, with cuts estimated between 18.5 to 21 staff positions.

Dickinson at the time said the district would know more after Elevate Academy, a new charter school opening in Twin Falls this fall, conducted its enrollment lottery. The charter school will take students from the district, further reducing enrollment.

But on Monday Dickinson said it is important to note publicly that the district was able to make reductions without laying off teachers.

That is something to celebrate, he said. “I’m happy to report that we are not going to have to let anybody go as part of the RIF.”

Trustees did not comment on Dickinson’s announcement at the board meeting.

Enrollment has slid in Twin Falls since the 2021-22 school year. The district had 9,412 students that year, but the number has steadily dropped, falling to 8,774 this school year — a loss of 638 students in four school years.

Dickinson told trustees that he expects the district to undergo another reduction next year. Elevate Academy will add another grade level, and he expects the incoming kindergarten class to be smaller.

“I don’t think you’re going to be cutting 18 positions again,” Dickinson said. “So I don’t mean to give you that impression, but we’re probably going to still be in a position where we need to reduce a few positions in the district.”