School Board Votes Down Motion to Cut Administrative Positions

In the midst of a budget debate, the school board defeated a motion tasking the administration to look for $250 thousand in non-classroom position cuts by a vote of 6-3. Later on, the assistant superintendent revealed that the administration was already investigating possible administrative cuts, and was tasked to do so by the school board in a previous executive session. The motion was first proposed by board member Jeffrey Dimmig who spoke against the current shortages in the budget

“My concern is the $3 million difference between what we’re taking and what we’re spending,” Dimmig said.

The motion called for the administration to eliminate $250 thousand in non-classroom positions, specifically targeting administrative positions.

“The assistant superintendent position should not be replaced,” Dimmig said, giving an example of possible cuts. “It just seems irresponsible to not look at it.”

Board member Thomas McLoughlin seconded Dimmig’s motion, saying, “I’m trusting the administration to come up with suggestions we can accept or reject.”

Several board members opposed the motion. “I would rather time and thought went into [the decision to cut positions],” said board member Corrine Gunkle of the motion. The school board is required to pass the final budget in two weeks, which would have given the administration even less time to come up with the suggestions.

Still other members rejected the proposal because it specifically targeted only administrative positions. “I don’t know why you’d tie their hands and say ‘you have to look at [cuts] this way,” board member Elizabeth Stelts said.

“You have to find it somewhere in the personnel,” Dimmig responded.

The motion was voted down 3-6. Only Dimmig, McLoughlin, and John Quigley voted for the motion.

“I sit here awe stuck,” said McLoughlin of the decision.

After several hours of intense and at times contentious debate, the board entered executive session. Assistant superintendent Leah Christman explained to the public that the administration was already at work looking for non-classroom position cuts, regardless of the vote.

“At our last executive session the school board asked me to look at plans for the future.” Christman said. “I have begun to meet with many of our administrative staff…we have discussed all kinds of ideas.” Christman went on, “I don’t know that the investigation will be done in two weeks, but we’re doing everything we can.”

McLoughlin clarified his position on position cuts, saying, “I don’t think we should be prescriptive about where and how to find savings. To micromanage is not our role.”

Referencing the announced at the last school board meeting, Gunkle,“It’s not a matter of filling a million-dollar hole. We’ve got another million dollar hole to fill next year.”

As the meeting wound down along with tempers, Dimmig continued to express disappointment. “I’m just leery of [future discussions]; it’s always sometime in the future. Eventually you’ve got to take action. As a school board we’ve got to make timelines.”

But tonight was not the time to take additional action. No further motions were made.