Reduction of 48 employees marks end of Elyria budget cut plan

The Elyria Board of Education voted Wednesday to approve the reduction in force of 48 district employees, the final step in the district's $9 million budget reduction plan that the board approved in February. Superintendent Ann Schloss said that the reduction in force, or RIF, came only after the district eliminated as many positions as possible through other means, like consolidation of positions or attrition, which includes resignations and retirements. The RIF approved Wednesday included 31 teachers and other certified staff, 15 nonteacher classified staff and two administrators. The district eliminated 12 administrative positions, but 10 of them were reduced by other means. "That is the last of the resolutions related to the budget cuts, and hopefully the last time for a long time that we have to do this," Schloss said. Board members Len Howser, Annie Carstarphen and board President Elaine Seguin voted in favor of the personnel actions that included the RIFs. Board member Brent Parker abstained from the vote, and member Michael Gebhardt was absent. All of the reductions in force approved by the board specified that the cuts were necessary due to the failure of the district's emergency operating levy on May 6. Schloss said that the district had already been able to call back some of the employees who had been reduced due to additional resignations, and it would be calling back more in the near future. "That is good news in a time that is devastating," she said. "As always, I don't want to cut anybody, but we are continuing to communicate with our staff to make sure that we finish out the year doing what we need to do for our students. I applaud our staff because they have gone through a lot of changes and potential changes, and they are still doing what they do every day. That just shows what kind of teachers, receptionists, cleaners, custodians and all staff that we have in the district." When the reduction plan was approved in February, a number of residents present at the board meeting held at Elyria High School suggested that to cut costs, the district should consider making sports and other extracurricular activities "pay to participate" programs. Most other districts in the Southwest Conference use some kind of pay to participate system for sports and some other activities, and the board has discussed the idea a number of times and requested additional information on its feasibility from the administration. Now better informed on the idea, Seguin suggested that the board hold another meeting in the EHS Performing Arts Center and invite as much of the community as possible to have a discussion about pay to participate. "I think it would be reasonable to do because I think there are pros to pay to play, but I think that there are also cons to it, due to the financial situations of some of the parents, so I think we would be able to hear both sides," Carstarphen said. Seguin said the board and administration would start working to organize the meeting. Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.