ESCANABA - A school nurse and 10 teachers in the Escanaba School District will officially receive notice today of their impending layoffs. The school board approved laying off the employees at its meeting Monday night.
The teachers who will be laid off include: Melissa Mariin-Aho, Magan Lantagne, Tara Mosier, Marci Downey, Jenny Baumler, Laurie Moberg, Sara Trombley, Gina Pepin and Scott Shepeck. School Nurse Julie Cass will be laid off as well.
Superintendent Tom Smith said the pink slips would go out today after the board approved them Monday night.
"('Pink slip') is just a term. It's actually a letter indicating that as of (today) they are effectively laid off at the end of the school year," Smith said. "But, some of them will be recalled."
Smith said the layoffs set forth Monday night are not final.
"They have to (by state law) receive their notices (today). Some of them will likely be recalled soon," he said. "When we are done we will probably need to lay off maybe seven people, but we can't tell you with any more specificity at this point. As I indicated before, some will be recalled."
Cass was on hand and addressed the board during the citizens and delegations portion of the meeting agenda. She said many of the benefits of having school nurses go unnoticed.
"I have a real concern for this decision and what it's going to do for our children," Cass said. "I understand that money is tight and I want to be open and be able to discuss... what we do as school nurses."
Cass said the national recommendation is to have one school nurse per 750 students. In the Escanaba School District, she said, they are already short-handed.
"If you are not hearing (about the school nurses) it's because we are taking care of it behind the scenes. There is no way to quantify the costs (of what we do) until we are gone," she said.
Cass said she, of course, is concerned about losing her job, but her main concern is children's health. She said without school nurses a financial issue of bringing in outside home health care workers, as well as liability issues, could develop.
"A child who is not healthy is not going to be able to learn. I just wanted to speak out," she said.
In other action, the board:
accepted the low bid of $30,654 from Heartland Business Systems for network infrastructure replacement.
adopted a resolution to accept the ISD proposed budget for the 2009-10 school year.
The general fund reflects revenues and fund modifications at $1,780,719 and expenditures at $1,217,151.
listened to an address from Dr. Kay Johnson, middle school principal, as she gave a presentation on district MEAP scores.
participated in a mock interview with Dave Blomquist and Dick Allen, officials from the Michigan Association of School Boards. The practice was in preparation of the search for a new superintendent for the district. The board was able to ask the MASB officials questions as they will in the real interviews coming up in June.
entertained an update on the 2009-10 budget. The school board must adopt the budget at the June meeting.
hired Theresa Pascoe as the freshman volleyball coach
approved a request from teacher Angela Faust to extend her leave of absence through the 2009-10 school year.
approved a contract addendum for Dr. Tom Smith regarding vacation days.
announced year-end activities, including the senior banquet at 6 p.m. and the honors program at 8 p.m. May 20 in the auditorium, and commencement ceremony at 8 p.m. May 22 in the senior high gym.
announced the acceptance of office received from Willard M. Carne and Nicole M. Dewar for positions on the school board. The two were elected to office May 5.
approved a resolution to designate Willard Carne as a representative of the district for the electoral body of the ISD biennial election to be held June 1, and appointed Cory Kutchenberg as the alternate.
The resolution noted candidates of choice as incumbents Bonnie Wenick-Kutz and Lou Maniaci.
