RIF approved for custodial staff, with work to be outsourced
Benjamin Logan Schools Interim Superintendent John Scheu reported to the board of education during their Monday evening meeting that through a variety of cost-saving measures, including zero-based budgeting for all departments, HVAC improvements, comparing and contrasting prices for services through various cooperatives, and attrition of staff by not replacing those who have retired or resigned, the district does not need to pursue an operating levy this fall.
In November 2019, the district’s proposed 1.5 percent earned income tax that would have generated about 3.4 million per year was turned down by voters.
During the meeting and also citing financial reasons, the board approved a Reduction in Force of the district’s maintenance and custodial staff, with the work to be outsourced to CMG of East Liberty.
Employees that will be laid off, effective Sept. 30, include: head custodians Dennis Wells, Larry Joe Giles and Steve Lyon; custodians Michael Gibbs, Diana Chamberlin, Janice Kennaw, Brooke Thompson and Penny Baker; and maintenance staff members Dan Blair and Van Williams.
Officials said each of the laid-off employees has been offered employment by CMG.
Michael Gibbs, a 25-year employee of buildings and grounds department, addressed the board regarding his concerns with this outsourcing plan.
Board President Tod Johnson also addressed the previous failed levy and the responsibility to the district and taxpayers, relating that the recent decisions of the board have resulted in the ability to avoid the tax increase.
He also noted that the delayed start of school year is a financial benefit and changing bus routing saved money.
High School Principal Mark Butler was honored at his last board meeting with his approaching retirement at the end of August. Scheu shared that the longtime district employee will be missed by all and presented Butler with a clock and gift to honor his 34 years in the district, with the last 10 years as BLHS principal.
Relating to the principal positions, the board extended one-year contracts to the following new administrative staff members, effective Aug. 1 through July 31, 2021:
Brian Powderly, high school principal; (15 years HS principal experience); Jeff Amspoker, assistant high school principal; and Holly Barr, middle school assistant principal. The three new hires were recently featured in an Examiner article.
The board also approved a pay increase for bus drivers in $3 per hour, and the new flat rate for trips set at $15.35 per hour, to become more competitive to compensation offered by other area school districts.
An incentive payment of $500 will be paid to any current bargaining unit member for recruiting a new bus driver who continues to be employed as a bus driver for the district for at least one year.
Newly hired bus drivers will additionally receive the $500 incentive payment at the completion of one year as a bus driver for the district.
The board also approved a memorandum with the Benjamin Logan Education Assocation relating to teacher evaluations and House Bill 164 and 197, including:
alternative student growth measures will not be used for evaluating teacher performance for the 2020-21 school year; any bargaining unit member who had an incomplete evaluation for 2019-2020 or 2020-21will retain their previous evaluation rating until they have completed a full evaluation cycle; and teacher evaluations will be suspended if Benjamin Logan goes into 100 percent remote learning due to COVID-19.
Members also approved the new school year calendar, with classes starting Thursday, Sept. 10, for Benjamin Logan students in grades one through 12.
The first day of school for kindergarten girls is Sept. 11, and kindergarten boys is Sept. 14. All kindergartners will attend Sept. 15.
In other action, the board:
• accepted the resignations of Leanne Suttles, intervention specialist, effective July 31; Daniel Kirkpatrick, custodian, effective Aug. 6; and bus drivers Leslee Simmons and David Tighe, each effective July 31;
• extended a one-year contracts to Jaclyn Atherton, high school intervention specialist; and bus drivers Mary Wallen, Taylor Reed and Stephanie Martin;
• extended the following supplemental contracts: Gretchen Powell, middle school football cheerleading, First Lego League; Kasey Copeland, junior varsity football cheerleading; Sam Baker, Nick Dyer, middle school football; Sheryl Spencer, middle school yearbook; Patty Price, middle school Builders Club; Jennifer Davis, middle school art club; Tabetha Lewis, middle school jazz band; Shannon Peterson, Booster Bar fundraising chair; Deepika Scheiderer, middle school newspaper adviser; Tyler Young, Tiann Harner, elementary school Raider Run Club; Jana Mitchell, middle school student council; Scott Vermillion, Washington, D.C., chair; Kay Dudgeon, middle school yearbook, high school musical director, high school musical technical director;
• approved Carli Henman as a long-term substitute for high school Spanish;
• appointed Scott Spriggs and alternate Tod Johnson as the delegate to the 2020 OSBA Annual Business Meeting that will be conducted virtually Nov. 7 through 10; and
• appointed John Stanford to the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center Board of Education for a three-year term, beginning Jan. 1, 2021.
The next meeting is at 6 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Benjamin Logan Local School District’s Board of Education Offices.