April 4, 2018 at 5:30 p.m.
School district to eliminate two positions
In a "Reduction in Force" plan adopted by the schools, the district is releasing Amy Keller, the elementary school counselor, and Tim Mauzy, industrial technology teacher at the high school. Keller has been with the district for 11 years, and Mauzy 18 years, said Dr. Kathy Griffey, the school superintendent.
The school district is facing state budget cuts of more than $400,000 this school year and about half that next school year, Griffey said. The staff cuts are a direct result of those budget changes, she said.
"That is a huge change in revenue for what we spend out of general fund, and 90 percent of that is student services -- people walking through the door to help kids," Griffey said. "So we know that our reductions have to be in that area because this is all General Fund."
Griffey said the schools were left to make the needed cuts as best they could, with an eye to eliminate positions that would have the smallest impact on students.
"The high school has a good plan in place to make sure the least impact possible will be realized at the high school," Griffey said. "At the elementary school, they are reorganizing and there was a new position posted as of (Wednesday) morning... It will not replace the school counselor position but it will redo the work there for students with high needs.
"That was a focus, if we have to reduce a position, let's not eliminate what we do for students with high needs."[[In-content Ad]]
