Charlo School District fires 5 teachers
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CHARLO — Two weeks ago, Charlo School District 7J Superintendent Thom Peck received preliminary budget reports from Montana's Office of Public Instruction forecasting nearly $200,000 in budget cuts to the district.
Peck said the cuts came about as a result of declining enrollment, a phenomenon correlating almost exactly with the start of the recession.
“Where people live is based so much on where they can work,” Peck said. “We were at an all-time high in the 1990s when things were really good, but we've had some really rough times lately.”
Peck said the district has lost around 40 students in the past few years and is down 15 students from last year.
“In a district of this size, that has a huge impact,” he said.
In response to the proposed cuts, the district's school board held a finance committee meeting Friday night to discuss, and eventually adopt, several major cuts to the district, including some staff positions.
Bethany Lindquist was recommended for non-renewal of non-tenured staff while four tenured teachers - Deb Nelson, Keith Grebetz, Rose Dehne and Alyssa Cahoon - were recommended to receive reduction-in-force notices.
“It's not that they're being terminated for cause, but because of the shortfall, we have to reduce staff. Because of that, they're losing their jobs, but we intend to bring them back on at least a part-time basis,” Peck said.
Once the teachers receive their reduction-in-force notices in the mail, they have the right to a hearing before the board if they so choose. Whether or not they choose to participate in a hearing, these teachers are no longer employed at Charlo Schools.
In addition, several school programs, including drama classes and the high school music program, were eliminated completely, along with one-and-a-half special education teaching positions. Shop supplies, maintenance hours, supplies, field trips and extra-curricular travel expenses also saw cuts. One bus route was eliminated, as was one kitchen aide position.
“When we actually submit the budget, we have a process for bringing back those teachers,” Peck said. “Some of this is us waiting on the legislature and health insurance costs to really see where we're at, with the whole premise being that we maintain our student achievement levels, and we are making these budget cuts so as to have the least effect on student achievement.”
In essence, Peck and the board of directors are preparing for the worst-case scenario. If the district faces nearly $200,000 in budget cuts, the teachers who were let go will most likely not be back for the following school year. However, if education funding is not cut, or other legislative measures lessen the severity of budget cuts, staff might be re-hired.
“The idea is that we would bring back those teachers based on what we get back from the state, health insurance and other factors that affect the budget,” Peck said before the finance meeting.
“It's unfortunate,” said Grebetz who taught English and drama for seven years at Charlo. “Especially with losing drama and music. Just seniority-wise, I mean, I have seven years of seniority, so I was pretty surprised. (The school board's) hands are tied, and it's not their fault ... it's our whole educational system. (The school board is) doing the best they can.”
After recommending the cuts, Peck was emotional and got a little choked up after reading the board the names of those he'd recommended receive RIF notices.
“The staff has been great,” Peck said. “If I had to go to war, this is the staff I would go to war with. We're going to have some really hard choices to make, but I can think of no better staff to stand alongside while those choices are made.”
The finance meeting itself was somber. Board members went over every inch of the proposed cuts, talking through as many angles as possible to be certain there were no other options. Finally, after a prolonged silence, Board Chair Shane Reum asked for a motion to accept the cuts. Board members, apparently unable to voice a resounding “yea” in support of the cuts, weakly raised their hands while looking down.
“It's awful,” Peck said of having to reduce staff and resources. “Every one of those people is good for kids, and my philosophy is that our greatest asset is the people we have here. We want to make sure we keep that asset, our best asset, as intact as we possibly can.”
When the final gavel fell, Reum put his head in his hands as several board members wiped away tears.
