Layoffs possible at Kaneland schools?
About 30 percent of Kaneland's certified staff - mostly teachers - got layoff notices Monday night from the school board.
That's quite different from previous years. Last year, for example, only five teachers were notified they might be laid off.
The board handed out the notices as part of an effort to erase a projected deficit of $2.6 million in the 2010-11 fiscal year budget, while it also prepares for a possible loss of an additional $2.2 million in state financial aid.
"We do each of these motions with deep regret. Nobody wants to be in this position for the kids," board President Lisa Wiet said to the 60 or so people in attendance. A majority were teachers, many of whom also live in the district.
Ninety-eight teachers, as well as the full-time equivalent of five speech therapists, two school psychologists, two nurses, a social worker and a guidance counselor, all were notified. All are nontenured. Most are in their first, second or third year of service with the district, meaning the district does not have to give a reason for laying them off. For the nine fourth-year teachers who received notices, district finances are being cited as the reason. Many were hired as the district went through a growth spurt, said Jeff Schuler, associate superintendent for human resources.
The board unanimously approved those measures.
But two members voted against giving notice to a full-time tenured teacher of French at the high school that he may only be employed part-time next year.
Board members Diane Piazza and Deborah Grant felt that doing so was more of a program decision, as the person is the only one who teaches French, so moving him to part-time status may result in no fourth-year French class, they said.
Board member Cheryl Krauspe disagreed.
"We don't know that this is the only person in the district that can teach French," she said.
Schuler said no decision has been made about the French program, and agreed it would be ideal to consider programs first, then personnel. But, by law, the notice has to be given now.
One teacher and two parents asked the board to reconsider cuts.
Schuler noted the number of teachers given notice may not equal the number of positions ultimately eliminated. The district wants flexibility in case it receives less money than expected from the state budget being considered for adoption this spring.
On March 8, the board made program cuts that will result in the equivalent of 11 full-time teaching positions being eliminated. It included eliminating fifth-grade band, middle-school interscholastic sports and 11 high school clubs, as well as cutting 10 coaches from the high school sports program.
Receiving a notice does not necessarily mean the teacher won't be called back, or that another teacher hired in their place. The district is required by law to give 45 days notice before the end of the school year to first- through fourth-year certified personnel who may be laid off; 60 days to tenured workers.
Kaneland layoff notices
The Kaneland school board laid off the full-time equivalent of 110 certified employees Monday night, including two school psychologists, five FTE speech therapists, two nurses, one social worker and one guidance counselor. It also made one full-time teacher a part-time teacher, and a special education coordinator has been demoted to teacher, for staffing reasons. The following teachers were on the list:
Part timePatricia BlackmanMarian DohertyHeidi GilkeyDonna HarnerLauri HaugenJanelle McCornackSharlene MomichBrandon StakerEd StrzepekNicole TrahantFourth yearJeremy BergerJulie BradburyMichael BowerMelissa FrankelTammy MetzAmy PiferStephanie RogersKeith SnyderTodd WeimerThird-yearSamantha AversaPhil BellinoSarah BendowskiRobert BohaczykErin CuenotCecilia DunnDarlyne DwyerSandra FalettoNicole FullDarla HaymanAnn Marie JezioroBreanne KahlKimberly KelemRyan MaloJavier MartinezSamantha MaurerPaul MayerTracy MazurkiewiczSofia MillsKaitlyn O'DeayChristine OlmaChristine PurnellBrenda RenaudRebecca ReuterTiffany ReuterJennifer SchieberTimothy SlepickaJennifer StormCarleigh VernerHeather WeidenbachSally WilsonSecond yearCheryl BorrowdaleDominic BrunoElizabeth BurtonKelsi CountrymanJake CountrymanLori DollMary DoranskiLaura EmmertKristin FaberNicole GoildmanLori GrantMaya GrantcharovJessica JohnsonMichelle JurcenkoAmy KanclerKathrine KaniaErin LivermoreJenelle ManceMarcie MartinJeffrey MaveusNicole McCloudChristina MontaltoKristina NeahringLinda NortonHope PaskusKasey PitstickNika PlattosJean Ryan-MeyersPatrick RyanCynthia SavageTina SchertzerJennifer ScottHeather SpaetzelLaura Steele-FritschEmily VanDeLinderFirst yearJanet BarryPatrick CarterMichael DufresneThomas HanlonCarol HengelLauren HueberBrian JohnsonRobert KirchPam LempJoshua LouisLaura MalewigTara Milner-WoodLaura MuellerDaniel RutterErin ShoreBridget SweeneyNora TomasikMaria ValdovinosCarlene WiegCarrie WorkmanSource: Kaneland school district