The state of the District’s financial situation has been under heavy scrutiny. Monumental decisions have been made.

Board of Education President Mark Lafata made a surprising motion at the Feb. 19 Board meeting to cut all six Dean positions throughout the high schools. At North, the jobs of Thomas Potteiger and Lisa Pirrung – both Deans of Students – were suddenly at risk. The motion was reevaluated last Thursday evening, at a Board meeting open to the public.

“I believe the Deans support our schools,” Superintendent Renee Schuster said prior to last week’s meeting. “They provide help with students and our discipline is getting better and better. The Deans are really pivotal in why that happened, but I understand the Board’s role in the decision [whether to keep them or not].”

After a chaotic one-hour debate, the Board of Education eventually voted in favor, 4-3, of keeping the Deans.
The proposal required they lose the title of Deans, and become FTEs (full-time employees) “to be used to support teachers and students in the PLC process.” Some members of the Board disputed over the Deans’ inconsistent roles in each high school, and for that reason descriptions will soon be under development. Until then, they can only wait for further details to emerge.

“I’m still a little confused about it,” Pirrung said after the meeting, “but I’m excited that they’re putting support behind the students.”

Prior to the explosive Dean situation, Schuster and her administration reviewed three proposed scenarios, all dealing with the future of staffing within the District.

Scenario #2 was selected; taxpayers will save $47.50 in taxes on a $250,000 home and 63 total District positions will be eliminated. With these positions – and therefore, salaries – gone, the District will accumulate a total reduction of $5,192,098. Principal Darlene Jones acknowledges the financial advantage, but feels the lack of one elsewhere.

“[The position cuts are] of no benefit to the students whatsoever,” Jones said. “It’s just for the District to balance their budget.”

Schuster is hopeful that natural yearly shifts among staffing within the District will create jobs for most of those whose jobs are at jeopardy.

Additionally, an “Early Retirement Incentive for Teachers” proposal was passed last Thursday in hopes to open up even more jobs. Those interested must apply by this Friday.

“Our goal is to find a job for everyone,” Schuster said, “but we can only get jobs they’re qualified for so it won’t be perfect.”