The Daniel Boone School Board unanimously approved June 22 the termination of 29 cafeteria employees “due to the outsourcing of their positions” to Nutrition Group, Inc., Irwin, Westmoreland County, for cafeteria fund savings of $150,000 and new cafeteria fund revenue of $150,000.
It also voted 7-2 to eliminate five elementary teachers, one Daniel Boone Middle School teaching position, and one High School teaching position due to a “substantial decrease in pupil enrollment.”
The vote included the codicil for district administration to look at enrollment by Aug. 7, with consideration to the seven eliminated positions, and present that information to the board for its Aug. 10 Committee of the Whole meeting.
If enrollment exceeds the current projected amount for 2015-16, board members said they would consider reinstating some positions.
Board members Michael D. Wolf and David Rathgeb opposed the motion to eliminate the positions.
Board member Andrew Basile said the district has lost 100 students within the last 10 months, “with the projection to be down another 120 students, for a total of 220 students.”
The board did retain High School Science teacher Courtney Werley, who was listed on the agenda for elimination.
“I was confused and embarrassed about the High School classes that were going to be cut (that had 10 or fewer students) – that were addressed at the last meeting,” said board President Richard Martino.
He said he had not realized that the elimination of Werley’s position would result in the loss of science, biology, and chemistry classes, as well as the popular Forensics class.
All of the teacher eliminations and cafeteria terminations are effective June 30.
That is the same date that Nutrition Group, Inc., will present a contract to the terminated cafeteria employees.
Following the unanimous vote to terminate the employees, board members said Nutrition Group’s contract will include a 2.5 percent salary increase and a continuation of benefits.
“It is only natural for Nutrition Group to want to honor them,” said member Carol Beitz, adding, “I hope they stay; they are the heart of the community.”
Deborah DiLanzo, cafeteria cashier at the Middle School, said after the meeting that she and her fellow workers are awaiting the June 30 contract presentation before presuming their retention by Nutrition Group, Inc., and the terms announced by the board.
The board unanimously approved the retirement of High School Cafeteria Manager/Cook Sharon Templin.
It also voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Athletic Facilitator Michelle Goss, effective June 30.
A 9-0 vote abolished the Athletic Facilitator position, reinstating the Athletic Director position, and approving the advertisement for an Athletic Director.
Board members said Goss has the opportunity to apply for the Athletic Director position.
High School Principal Preston N. McKnight said the athletic facilitator was responsible for scheduling games, the athletic budget, and equipment.
It varied from the Athletic Director responsibilities by not making personnel decisions, administering performance evaluations, or dealing with parental concerns.
Robert Hurley, coordinator of Instructional Services, was unanimously appointed as Incoming Acting Superintendent and Acting Superintendent in the wake of the June 30 resignation of Superintendent Marybeth Torchia.
Martino said superintendent interviews began on June 18.
The board voted 5-4 to approve the district’s $53 million budget and to not raise taxes for the 2015-16 school year.
Members Rathgeb, Wolfe, Tamara D. Twardowski, and Brian Doty opposed the motion, citing the need for a quarter-mill tax increase.
They said increasing district expenses, a dwindling fund balance, and an undeterminable amount of state public school funding require a small tax increase to offset a “difficult situation in a couple of years.”
“The [state’s] Fair Education Funding formula discussion – looks to be benefiting Philadelphia and others – but we have no idea what we will get from the state,” said board President Richard Martino.
He said the district might get more state money than it received last year.
“I don’t see the need to raise taxes,” said Martino.
Wolfe, Twardowski, and Doty said it isn’t the 2015-16 budget that is the issue, but next year’s budget (with a $2 million PSERs retirement fund bill) that will result in a $600,000 fund balance.
“In 2016-17, we won’t be able to raise taxes enough [to eliminate a deficit,” said Wolfe.
Martino said taxes could be raised to the 2.5 index in 2016-17, resulting in $800,000 new revenue.
He estimates a $900,000 fund balance in 2016, for a total of $1.7 million.
“We’re in negotiations with teachers, but that’s assuming no increase for three years,” said Rathgeb.
“[There was] a $50 billion shortfall of PSERs, Daniel Boone is not the only school district struggling with budget cuts the last three years,” said Martino, adding, “This is an unbudgeted amount – we don’t have an extra $2 million to pay for that.”
The Administrative Salary Adjustments for 2015-16 and the Act 93 Administrators Compensation Plan were tabled until the board’s meetings in August.
Taxes will remain at 28.9618 mills.
Properties assessed at $100,000 will pay $2,896 in property taxes.
