Community boosters said June 14 they will preserve and pay for a middle school athletic program for about 229 Octorara Area School District athletes, but missing from the campus this September will be nine teaching positions the district is leaving vacant in order to trim $1.1 million from a tight 2010-11 budget.
The school board accepted with regret the retirement resignations of nine teaching staff who will not be replaced. The district is also reducing clerical staff, one administrative position by combining the positions of accounting supervisor and human resources coordinator, and two staff resigning to have children will not be replaced. The changes, made following a mid-meeting executive session for personnel issues, brought next year’s spending plan down to $46,026,385.
The school board approved a memorandum of understanding with its teachers union offering an early retirement incentive to staff resigning by June 1, and the outgoing retirees will receive $10,000 per year for three years, toward their health care costs.
The budget, up 4.55 percent from the current plan, faces its final vote at 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 28. The millage rate will be 35.12 mills in Chester County and 28.31 mills in Lancaster County.
“We have made significant cuts which are going to affect the education of the students,” said Lisa Bowman, school board president.
When asked by a citizen how the district will continue with its math improvement program while cutting one secondary math teacher, Superintendent Tom Newcome said the district will move forward, albeit “with one less person working on the plan.”
Retiring are science teacher Nancy Beaton, fifth grade teacher Judy Benne, eighth grade English teacher Carol Bronson, high school social studies teacher Neil Chippendale, reading specialist Aleta Connell, eighth grade science teacher Anthony DiSipio, high school math teacher Terry Johnson, fourth grade teacher Vicky Mundy, and middle school guidance counselor Judy Turzi.
As for athletics, Athletic Director Jim Weagley thanked community sports boosters for their hard work and said boosters agreed to float the middle school athletic program, a $105,000 program cut from the budget, through fundraisers and activity fees.
Weagley said the program is also shifting its focus to place training and skill development first, and competition second. He warned tight boosters budgets may still mean making cuts from the teams, and seventh and eighth grade teams will be combined. Weagley said the volunteer-run program will be in compliance with Title IX regulations. Most sports will move forward with intramurals plus a small competitive schedule.
“The idea of cuts is giving me serious heartbreak,” said board member Sam Ganow.
Weagley also presented an idea from gym teacher Tom Hurley, who also runs Tom Hurley Fitness Performance, which could potentially bring the district $10,000 in revenue. Hurley has offered to contract to open the high school Fitness Center early morning, after school and evenings, plus weekends, oversee certified trainers and promote Fitness Center memberships.
Alan Brown of Atglen said the board should charge Hurley a rental fee and “let him charge whatever he wants.”
Ganow, however, questioned whether the arrangement would be “policy” and if the board would be on legal standing with such an arrangement. The matter will come up for a vote June 28.
Finally, the board unanimously approved spending $207,500 to make repairs to the middle school roof this summer. The job will go to Weatherproofing Technologies, Inc. And, Kim McCully was hired as the new human resource coordinator/accounting supervisor at a $70,000 salary.
-30-