The Federal Hocking School Board moved to reduce seven teacher positions to address a looming budget deficits
By: Alison Patton
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AMESVILLE, Ohio – The Federal Hocking School Board voted 3-2 to eliminate seven teacher positions and one teacher at Tuesday’s board meeting as a way to cut down on operational costs.
Exactly how many teachers this will affect isn’t known. Positions are being reduced, but the teachers in those spots might shift to another position, possibly by bumping a teacher with less seniority.
The reductions would save the district an estimated $529,000.
The district is expecting to end this school year in a deficit over $350,000, according to projections by the district’s treasurer. It has cash reserves to cover the loss, but if the district doesn’t make cuts, the deficit is projected to nearly double next year.
According to a letter WOUB received from Federal Hocking Superintendent Jason Spencer, the district is eliminating a second-grade and fourth-grade teaching position at Amesville Elementary, a fifth-grade teaching position at Coolville Elementary, and four positions at Federal Hocking Middle School.
Also, a person filling in for a teacher on leave will be let go. The returning teacher is keeping the same courses, and their position isn’t being eliminated.
Eliminating the seven positions is something like musical chairs. For example, if a second-grade teacher whose position is being eliminated has more seniority than a third-grade teacher, and is certified to teach third grade, the second-grade teacher might shift to teaching third grade.
In this scenario, the third-grade teacher might then bump another teacher depending on seniority and certification.
Also, some of the positions the district is proposing to eliminate are currently open. Under union rules, the district may need to offer one of these positions to a teacher who is facing elimination.
“As you can see, it isn’t as easy as saying eight positions or six teachers,” Spencer wrote in the letter. “We now begin working with the union to see if teachers want any of our open positions or who has proper certification and more seniority. That will be decided in the coming weeks.”
“I just feel like the community has spoken that they want to try to make a levy pass to find other ways to raise funds, so we can keep our small schools small and be proud of that,” said Natalie Horvath, a parent who attended the meeting.
The idea of a levy was strongly encouraged by people in the audience. The board didn’t comment on an income tax levy.
Parents were also concerned about what this might do to class sizes.
Along with eliminating some positions, the district also wants to combine the fourth and fifth grade classes at Amesville Elementary, Spencer said.
There are about 60 students between the fourth and the fifth grades, elementary school principal Angie Klingelhafer said. Three teachers would each teach a different subject to a group of fourth graders and a group of fifth graders.
One would teach all the students math, another would teach English and another would teach science, social studies and writing, Klingelhafer said. As the students rotate to each teacher, the teacher would have different course work based on the students’ grade level.
Horvath said bigger class sizes won’t help students learn.
“This is a poor area, and there are kids that need extra attention,” she said. “It’s just not going to happen with 28 students in a classroom.”