Three laid off in RC Schools ?More may be necessary later,? says superintendent
Layoff notices are again going out in the Rogers City Area Schools as administrative staff members recommended, and received approval by the board of education, to lay off three teachers at the bottom of the seniority list. The three teachers are Mary Benner, special education; Lynn Krentz, kindergarten; and Ariane Romel, Title One. Superintendent Ed Schultz said more layoffs may be necessary, depending on the situation with the budget.
AFTER A SERIES of meetings and discussions with administration, the teacher and support groups, and the planning and finance committee, the 2003-04 preliminary budget is beginning to take shape, said Schultz.
?As we collectively wait for more needed information from the state…property tax data, enrollment projections, it is clear that additional layoffs are necessary,? said Schultz, ?to bring expected revenues and projected expenditures into line without exhausting all of our fund equity.? An informal layoff meeting was conducted on April 9.
SCHULTZ BELIEVES it?s only fair to give the teachers ample notice, if they wish to seek other employment. ?As we did last year, Don (Schaedig) and I thought it would be fair if we did it now ? in fact we?re a month late (compared to last year),? said Schultz. The budget situation could change, depending on the economy and what the legislature in Lansing does, and there is a possibility the teachers could be rehired if things improve, or if teachers retire. But there also could be another round of layoffs. As part of the restructuring at the elementary to cover the layoffs, elementary principal Deb Jones is looking at one less class. There would be larger second and third grade classes, and a class with a blend of second and third grade students.
JONES SAID the three classes would have an average of 18 to 19 students. High school principal Jim Connell said with the board not replacing computer teacher Kathy Woloszyk?s position there will be some shuffling of positions at the high school to cover for her job. Woloszyk announced her retirement last month. Connell is making a modification in graduation requirements for the next school year because of the missing staff member. Instead of going up from two credits to three in math and science, as planned, they will be kept at two credits. Retired part-time co-op teacher Duane Sobeck agreed to take a 67 percen
THERE WAS some good news for some teachers at the meeting Monday, after four received tenure status. As a result of four years of satisfactory performance as probationary teachers, Chad Coolman and Patrick Peterson were granted tenure by the board. Peterson was hired June 14, 1999, while Coolman was brought on board September 13, 1999. Coolman?s tenure status won?t begin until the anniversary date of his hiring.
As a result of having previously acquired Michigan tenure and two years of satisfactory performance in Rogers City, tenure was granted to Benner and Marilyn Dimick. Both were hired during the summer of 2001. Two volunteer coaches also were approved: Julianne Windy as a volunteer coach for high school track and Chuck Krueger for JV softball.