USD 408 votes to cut MES media specialist position years ago
Staff writer
"I ran for the school board to try and help education and then we have to let quality teachers go," said USD 408 school board member Sarah Cope. "This is a no-win situation for all of us."
Cope summed up the feelings of those attending Monday night's Marion-Florence USD 408 Board of Education meeting held in the Marion High/Marion Middle School commons area.
Approximately 30 audience members were in attendance. Most were Marion Elementary School staff or volunteers.
Following one hour of executive session, the board returned to the table with the announcement most were dreading — the teaching contract of MES media specialist, Elaine Shannon, would not be renewed for the 2004-05 school year.
Board member Roger Hannaford III read the resolution of non-renewal which noted that since Shannon had been a district employee since 1995 she was entitled to due process protection.
Simply, that means Shannon may appeal the board's action through a due process hearing. If requested, the hearing must occur within 15 days after the notice of non-renewal is delivered.
According to the resolution, the clerk of the board must give Shannon written notice of non-renewal by May 1.
The non-renewal resolution cited two reasons for the decision. First, the need to reduce staff due to the decline in student enrollment; and second, the need to cut staff based on decreased state aid.
The resolution passed unanimously, 7-0.
This past week it was announced Shannon had been chosen by staff as "teacher of the year" at Marion Elementary.
During the March 16 school board meeting, MES staff were vehement in their support of Shannon, citing the importance of her position to both staff and students.
Monday night, MES audience members seemed subdued and resigned to the fact there was nothing they could do to save the position from the budget ax.
Concluding the meeting, board members spoke on the difficulty of the decision.
"It's been a real tough time to decide which action will least compromise students," said vice president Gene Bowers.
Board member Chris Sprowls said when he joined the board it was never his intention to be a "hatchet man."
Hannaford said it had been another "very difficult night" and hoped the district would find a way to "keep moving forward."
Board president Rex Savage echoed the others' statements and said the board had tried to find other avenues and alternatives "without success."
Looking at a $300,000 budget shortfall — due almost entirely to declining enrollment — board members had no choice but to start cutting staff to make up the shortfall. Eighty percent of the district's budget involves staff, including salaries and benefits.
Early on, the board planned to cover two-thirds of the $300,000 shortfall by making staff reductions. The remaining one-third will be covered by not replacing a bus and several other vehicles.
During the March meeting, two teaching positions were eliminated at Marion High School along with four support staff positions throughout the district. The board opted at that time to wait and address the issue of the media specialist during the April meeting.
