Admin costs remain unchanged
CARRIER MILLS-STONEFORT—Reduction in Force (RIF) was the topic of a heavy Carrier Mills-Stonefort School Board on Monday, March 31, when the board was forced to let go several teachers as a result of being under funded.
The meeting began with a public hearing on the matter, during which a presentation was given of the financial status of the school. The board had prepared a paper presentation of the financial statement that the superintendent had for those in attendance. This financial statement showed decrease of 16.1 percent funding in the Education Fund over the last four fiscal years, and 35.9 percent in the Transportation Fund. Part of this was from state funding cuts, and the rest was from grant cuts and enrollment decline.
“So what do we do?” Superintendent Richard Morgan said, explaining that the board had cut a bus route last year, and may do the same this year. Additionally, it was possible that portions of the elementary school might be combined, or additional math courses that had been added to boost math scores may be dropped. Morgan stated that these cuts were not something the board wanted to do, but that at some point tough choices had to be made and something has to give.
Public heard, but not answered
The public was given the chance to make comments, and Chris Moiser was recognized. Moiser asked for specific numbers for enrollment decline of the past several school years. The Board President John Whiting told Moiser that he could not comment and that only comments would be considered, and questions would not be answered. Moiser asked if there would still be consideration given to possible consolidation with Harrisburg’s School District, to which Whiting replied “Thank you for your comments.”
With that, the public hearing was adjourned and the regular meeting of the School Board was called to order.
The meeting began with the recognition of visitors, and then was promptly moved into executive session for items 1, 2, 14 of the Illinois open meetings act, all of which pertain to personnel issues.
Personnel matters determined.
When the meeting was called back into open session, the board moved into action on the closed session items. The first motion was to approve the closed minutes session, and personnel motions followed it.
Whiting read motion number one: to approve a resolution to authorize honorable discharge of full time non-tenure teachers and reassignment to part-time non-tenure teachers. The motion passed.
The second motion was to approve a resolution to authorize honorable dismissal of full-time tenured teachers and reassignment to part-time tenure teachers. The motion passed.
The third motion was to approve a resolution that authorized the honorable dismissal of teachers. The motion passed.
The fourth and final motion was to approve a resolution authorizing the non-reemployment of full-time first year non-tenured teachers. The motion passed.
The meeting was adjourned, and by the following morning, several teachers would be out a job, and kids would lose their standard of education.
Names released
The following morning, the names of the dismissed or reassigned teachers were announced. Fifth and sixth grade social studies teacher Sheri Moiser, Art teacher Troy Mayberry, and Physical Education and health teacher Ashley Allbriton were given Honorable Dismissals. Music teacher Daryl Varbel, and high school and grade school math teacher Christina Couty were both reduced from full-time to part-time. Lastly, high school home economics teacher Lisa Davidson received a non-renewal of employment.
These cuts will be enacted during the 2014-2015 school years. The cut teachers will finish out the current school year in their same positions and with the same pay and work schedules.
These lost jobs will likely not be the last at the Carrier Mills – Stonefort School District, however, as decreasing funding and enrollment was something that the Board does anticipate to continue seeing. Please see the sidebar story on school funding.