By TARA HETTINGER
Tara.Hettinger@newsandtribune.com
May 14, 2008 06:21 pm
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With three Greater Clark County Schools’ board members absent at Tuesday’s meeting, the remaining members voted 4-0 to cut 20 teachers and para-educators as part of the corporation’s Reduction in Force plan.
Two other teachers were also cut, due to performance reasons, according to Sandy Lewis, general counsel for the administration.
Administrators will start notifying all those effected today.
Superintendent Tony Bennett said although the 20 are laid off, 15 of those who are teachers may still be called back if more teachers take advantage of the retirement incentives.
“Technically, their positions have been reduced, but we are still working on incentive packages with the retire/rehire program we talked about at the last meeting,” Bennett announced to the audience that filled every seat, leaving standing room only for the remaining people.
In Greater Clark, more than 120 teachers qualify for retirement. To encourage them to do so, the incentive plan — if approved — will offer them a chance to stay on the corporation’s health insurance and to receive a cash payout, totaling two years worth of single premium health insurance costs.
However, there is a catch. That plan is in the collective bargaining process. That means, for it to work, the teachers’ association and administration must agree on a contract. Their contract ended last summer and so far talks have been unsuccessful.
When asked about that adding more pressure on the teachers and administration to decide on a contract, Lewis nodded in agreement and said she’s hopeful that today’s bargaining session will yield results.
Lorinda Hostetler is one of the parents effected by the layoffs. She said her son’s teacher is one of those getting cut.
“It just terrifies me that our classes are going to grow and our students won’t learn,” Hostetler said with tears in her eyes. “I can only do so much. I rely on the teachers to do the rest and if they can’t do it, I’m going to have to stay at home and help teach my son.”
She addressed the board before the vote was made. She said that as an accountant, she is offering her services to go line by line in the more than 10,000 page budget to find other ways to reduce spending without reducing teachers.
She also said that she and other community members need to volunteer to do things to cut costs, such as painting in the building projects. After the meeting, Lewis said there are too many rules and regulations to allow that to happen.
Hostetler said she won’t let that stop her.
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” she said, smiling as she walked out of the meeting.
Two other community members also addressed the board talking about the building project at Charlestown High School. Each said more community input is needed, before work is done.
Bennett changed what was on the agenda from approving CHS design development drawings to just approving the new academic wing.
He said it’s been hard balancing wants and needs while staying within the budget.
“We are committed to getting the absolute most we can get with the money we have,” Bennett told the audience.
He said approval was necessary so that work could start before construction codes change. He said if the start date is delayed, it could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars more.
As for the rest of the project, Bennett said, “We’re going to give you the opportunity to see the pieces of this before we bring it back (for a vote).”
Also at the meeting:
• The board voted to approve a $721,000 bid to Performance Contracting for acoustical panels, acoustical walls and ceiling panels at Jeffersonville High School.
• The board voted to approve a $1,658,377 bid to Maynard and Mitchell Interiors for drywall at JHS.
• The board approved a construction management agreement to oversee CHS’s project to Whittenberg Construction Company for $1,350,000.
• The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for June 10.
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Photos
Tony Bennett