Vermilion schools approve reduction in force, eliminates seven positions

During a special meeting Monday night, the Vermilion Board of Education unanimously approved plans to eliminate seven positions in the district. The seven positions include five staff members at Vermilion High School and two reading specialists — one at Vermilion Elementary School and one at Sailorway Middle School. The five positions set to be eliminated at Vermilion High School are instructors for visual arts, instrumental music, health and physical education, career tech and a custodian. "It's a hard pill to swallow," said Board President Mark Benson. "Lives are affected today." Monday's cuts are a direct result of financial pressure the district has felt from multiple sources — rising costs, changes to public school funding from the state level and a bond issue that failed in November's general election. "I personally hate it with a passion that we have to kind of do this," said Superintendent Wes Weaver. "It's tough. It's very tough. But we have to move forward to the next step to keep the catastrophic thing from happening." Prior to Monday's vote, board members fielded questions and addressed concerns from community members. Board member Jill Treece told the crowd that while the financial situation is tied to the bond issue's failure in November, the board's decision is not in retaliation. "We're all very much disappointed in that, but I think it's also important to note that this isn't punitive because of the failure of the bond issue," Treece said. In November, 59.7 percent of ballots cast voted against the bond issue, according to the Lorain and Erie county boards of elections. If approved, it would have generated $47 million to maintain and renovate district facilities, Weaver said. Following the failure of the bond issue, the district had to turn to cash reserves to address structural issues at the high school, Treece said. "Now our cash reserves, our savings, is gone," Treece said. "Now we're stuck trying to figure out how do we make ends meet." The cuts approved Monday night will save the Vermilion school district approximately $1 million, Weaver said. However, Weaver added that the staff cuts will stabilize the Vermilion school district for the moment, but only if voters approve an emergency levy this November. "We're going to be back here in two years if the emergency levy passes," Weaver said. If it is not approved, Weaver said it would have catastrophic consequences for the school district. "The number of teachers that we cut today doesn't come anywhere close. It's not even a fourth of what would need to be cut if that $4 million is gone," Weaver said, adding that it "would change the entire complexion of the school district. It would not resemble what it looks like." Vermilion is not alone with its financial struggles. Throughout Lorain County, school districts have begun to grapple with large deficits that are on the horizon. "We're not the only district that's in this situation," Benson said, adding that residents should contact state legislators and seek out information on November's levy. "We're going to have to communicate the heck out of it and hope people that showed up here to the meeting are also going to show up to the polls and vote yes for the levy in November," Benson said. "… We are steadfast in trying to get the word out to get the levy passed in November." During Monday's meeting, several parents of students in the district spoke up, offering their grief of the positions that will be cut, some of which are focused on arts and career paths. Those parents and community members also offered possible solutions, including inviting elderly individuals to tutor children in reading. Two main pieces of advice multiple speakers offered on Monday was for district officials and community members to reach out to state representatives and urge them to change how public education is funded, as well as for residents to vote yes on the coming levy. "There is not a teacher or an administrator here I think that has not been emotionally invested with our kids at our schools and our community," said board member Krystal Russell. "I will tell you, this has not been easy for a single one of them." Contact Garrett Looker at glooker@chroniclet.com.