It appears that some rumors about budget restoration priorities are circulating as a result of a presentation made to the Board of Education this past Monday (3/12/12) regarding the reinstatement of athletics next year. I must reiterate that we’re still in the process of developing all that can be restored due to passage of the levy, some in re-imagined ways and some, such as athletics, with a higher pay to participate. Please allow me to provide the following information and clarification.
The reason the Board of Education’s very first budget restoration discussion pertained to the reinstatement of sports is because we were working on a March 15 deadline established by the Ohio High School Athletic Association. It was by that date that the OHSAA needed a commitment that we were reinstating athletics for next year, or else they would allow schools to pull out of their scheduled contests with us. Our school district needed to confirm that sports would be reinstated, and that has happened.
Regarding related arts programming, the fact that we have not yet discussed this topic publicly should not be interpreted to mean that these programs will remain on our budget reductions list. Though there may be a reduced number of options available to students, or a change to who teaches/advises these courses and activities due to provisions in the Westerville Education Association’s bargained contract, related arts appeared on the second-highest tier of prioritized program restorations – the same tier as athletics.
Regarding who will teach that, we must work within the provisions of Ohio Revised Code and the local bargaining union agreement. Both require the use of seniority for recalling those licensed to teach a subject. The state requires Reductions In Force (RIF) to be Board-enacted by the end of April. Our last Board meeting in April is scheduled for the 23rd. Since our own practice has been to provide 30 work days notice of the potential RIF, these notices were given last week. We appreciate your patience with this process.
We’re engaging staff in the process to re-imagine programs that will be retained and restored. Our intent is to present all restoration plans in public sessions for the benefit of interested community members and in a spirit of transparency. The Board is holding only one meeting in March due to spring break, so the reports and discussions regarding additional restorations will resume during April Board meetings. Our hope is to have something to present to the Board during its next regular meeting on April 9, 2012.
3/16/2012