It’s the sort of announcement a school superintendent never wants to make.

Jim Shank, superintendent of the Coupeville School District, said at Monday night’s school board meeting that continued declining enrollment would result in the reduction of 4.5 staff positions beginning in the fall.

Retirements and relocations would account for all of those positions except for one.

Shank revealed Tuesday that Larry Walsh would not be retained as principal of the high school and middle school.

Instead, Shank will assume those administrative duties in the fall to go along with his role as superintendent.

“It’s always difficult to sit across from people and let them know we have to make these decisions,” Shank said.

Walsh had just started at Coupeville this school year, but the school board ultimately decided to make the reduction in administration rather than make a staffing decision that would adversely affect the classroom.

Coupeville’s latest enrollment projections led the school board to take action Monday night to align the district’s staffing model more closely with state funding.

The board decided to cut three certified staff positions, one administrative position and a part-time classified staff position.

All but the administrative positions would be handled through attrition and reorganization.

“Kids in the classroom are our No. 1 priority,” school board member Kathleen Anderson said.

The Coupeville School District’s enrollment has been declining since the 2004-05 school year when the district had 1,128 students.

Enrollment is projected to be at 840 students in the fall. That number is based on a trend in the past three years with enrollment dipping about 100 students since the 2011-12 school year.

Current enrollment is 858, Shank said.

Walsh’s last day at Coupeville will be June 30 when his contract ends.

All principals have one-year contracts, Shank said.

Although he was only in Coupeville a year, Walsh has led critical staff discussions about a new school schedule that will increase student options beginning next school year.

“It’s been a privilege and rewarding experience to serve at CMS/HS,” Walsh wrote in an email. “I will miss the extraordinary staff, students and families I have come to know this year.”