More school cuts, changes OK’d

Another wave of personnel cuts and organizational changes was unveiled Tuesday at the monthly meeting of the Vandalia Board of Education.
Three full-time employees – Chris Irwin (industrial technology, Vandalia Junior High School/Okaw Area Vocational Center), Tony Hicks (band, Vandalia Community High School) and Lynn Huber (special education, VCHS); and two part-time employees – John Hall (part-time office technology, OAVC) and Michelle Miller (Study Island, VJHS) were given Reduction In Force notices that their jobs are going to be eliminated. Additionally, the contract of Todd Ehlers (agriculture, OAVC) was reduced from 11-months to the standard nine-month teacher contract.
“These decisions are based on the level of revenues we’re receiving from the state,” said Superintendent Rich Well.
“The loss of more than $1 million in General State Aid payments during the past two years is driving these decisions. We’ve got to do everything we can to cut costs. And even with these (cuts), we’ll have to look to make additional reductions next year.”
In addition to the RIF cuts, the board also approved a reorganization plan that will change the duties of nine other staffers. Those are:
• Jessica Eckard – To third-grade at Vandalia Elementary School, from kindergarten at Jefferson Primary School.
• Debbie Hobbie – To VJHS health from VJHS science.
• Kevin Jackson – To VJHS physical education and VCHS/VJHS athletic director from VCHS driver’s education and VCHS/VJHS athletic director.
• Luke Hohlt – To VJHS guidance counselor from the same position at VCHS.
• Ruth Chesney – To VCHS special education from VJHS special education.
• Sara Berg – To VCHS and VJHS band from VJHS band.
• Jim Dierkes – To VCHS and OAVC art from grades 1-4 art.
• Julie Lay – To OAVC office technology (half-time) from VJHS computers.
In other personnel matters, the board approved:
• The planned retirement of Kathy Grandt (VJHS math teacher) on June 30, 2018.
• The resignations of Kevin Schroeder as VJHS track coach in the 2013-14 school year; Ruth Chesney as VJHS student council sponsor in the 2013-14 school year; Paula Hunter from VES secretary, effective April 1; and Hope Nottmeyer from VCHS language arts teacher, effective in the 2013-14 school year.
In other business, the board approved the following volunteer coaches for spring sports: VCHS softball, Hannah Edgar; and VCHS/VJHS track, Don Bright, Mike Travelstead, Dave Bell, Dan Gordon and Jim Dierkes.
The following fourth-year teachers were approved for tenure status, beginning in the 2013-14 school year: Kelly Hardiek, Walt Kinney, Danielle Matlock, Michelle McNary, Ann Winchester and Annette McClintock.
Additionally, the following first-, second- and third-year teachers were approved for rehire in the upcoming school year. Third-year teachers are: Greta Krueger and Julie Lay; second-year teachers are Robyn Demoulin, Brenna Correll, Darin Dugan, Brooke Hoene, Gena Nance, Mark Rinehart, Stephanie Smith and Rachel Steele; and first-year teachers are Katrina Moss, Amanda Kamplain and Jim Dierkes.
Because the district used two snow days, the final exam days at the end of the spring semester will be May 23-24.
Easter break will be taken from Friday, March 29, through Friday, April 5, with classes resuming on Monday, April 8.
VCHS Principal Randy Protz noted that the high school spring play will be presented this Friday and Saturday in the VCHS gymnasium at 7 p.m. both nights.
In his financial report to the board, Well said that the state’s failure to pay the entire budgeted amount to school districts is putting the Vandalia district in a difficult position.
“Now, the state is paying 89 percent of the budgeted amount, but the governor has said he wants to move that to 82 percent,” Well said
 “And he’s said that he wants transportation funds to be prorated down to 19 percent. That’s all about running schools out of the busing business.
“We’ll keep knocking on doors and spreading the word with our legislators.”
To date, the district has received 70 percent of the year’s projected total payments in the education fund and 80 percent in the transportation fund. Expenditures in those funds are 66 percent in education and 62 percent in transportation.
As incoming funds continue to lag behind budgeted pace, the district is being forced to spend out of its operating balance in order to make ends meet. As a result, the balance of those reserve funds is now down to just over $3 million.
“If the state moves to funding us at 82 percent of budget, we’ll be out of (reserve) money in two years,” Well said. “But that’s the hand we’ve been dealt. All school districts are in the same boat.”
To show the school board some positive things going on in the district, Well briefly moved the board meeting to the biology room, where Amber Conner demonstrated how she is using technology to augment her teaching.
She uses an iPad and a video camera to record lectures and also to project images onto the classroom’s Smartboard. She’ll soon be going on maternity leave, and is in the process of recording lectures for the time she’ll be off, so the students can have the continuity of her teaching.
“This is thinking outside the box,” Well said of her use of technology.
VCHS Principal Randy Protz also addressed the board, showing them charts that indicate that VCHS graduates attending Illinois public universities are adjusting well to college.
“We were well above the state average across the board,” Protz said. “Our seniors that met the ACT benchmark scores went on to make B’s in college. It’s pretty impressive. It shows that our kids are prepared to succeed.”