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Published 10/13/2009 in Local News
By SHAJIA AHMAD
HOLCOMB -- School board officials in USD 363 have yet to decide whether to hire an independent agency to begin the search for a new superintendent or take on the challenge themselves.
Demitry Evancho, interim superintendent, put forth both options at a Holcomb Board of Education meeting Monday night, and said the service available to the district could cost a few thousand dollars to more than $10,000.
"You could do it yourself, and it would be quite challenging with a lot of communication on your part. But it can be done," Evancho said, adding that the benefit of an agency such as the Kansas Association of School Boards or the Southwest Plains Regional Service Center is that they have a system, directly targeting qualified personnel in their search, screening applications, and making candidate recommendations to district officials.
The interim superintendent told school board member Mary Ann Bennett, who inquired about the possibility of a diminished pool of qualified applicants if district officials proceeds themselves, that he could not say with certainty which option would be a better approach.
Evancho recommended the board consider including other individuals such as community members, district patrons and school administrators in their discussion as they work on a time line at the next school board meeting.
"There seems to be a move of educators from Oklahoma to Kansas, but I don't know where else there's movement, and (candidates) would also have to meet certain state certification requirements," Evancho said. "The idea is to get the vacancy out there no matter how or what."
Evancho added that if the board decides to hire an agency's services, it could make its decision to begin the search process in mid-November and be ready to take candidate recommendations at the beginning of next year. That would provide ample time to hire a new superintendent who could begin July 1, the first day of the next fiscal year.
Sure shortfalls
Evancho offered a final full-time equivalency -- or FTE -- student count from a September tally: 924.3.
The FTE is about 12 students rated at full-time equivalency higher than originally budgeted for this year, and the district will have to republish its budget, which only accommodates 912 FTE at this time, Evancho said.
The district receives $4,218 base state aid per pupil and could receive funds for the 12 extra students rated at FTE, once the district is audited.
In general, students are counted as one FTE, with kindergartners counting as .5, but certain factors apply for students who are bilingual, at-risk, or are in other programs such as free or reduced lunch.
Both Evancho and the board's president, Tim Miller, stressed the importance of parents and educators communicating with their state-elected officials about recent cuts in education and the surety of future cuts.
Evancho said the Kansas Legislature is estimating a $62.5 million shortfall in general education funds for the current fiscal year, and the problem is compounded by increased numbers of students who are at-risk or applying for free or reduced lunch programs. The Holcomb school district had 967 students in the preliminary September full-head count, up from 904 last year.
"Cash balances have dropped drastically in these past years, and it's going to be a difficult and tight year," he said, adding that citizens have to be willing to ask for higher taxes or alternative revenue-generating methods in order to accommodate for shortfalls projected in Kansas in the hundreds of millions over the course of the next few years. "We can't sit back and do nothing. We've already lost extra paras and extra teachers in at-risk programs, and if we continue to lose more, we're going to evaporate our gains in education."
Kansas legislators cut more than $168 million in state aid to public schools during the 2009-10 school year, including $4 million that went directly to special education funding.
The Kansas Legislative Research Department is estimating a $411 million shortfall in general funds in education to achieve a zero-ending balance during the 2011 fiscal year.
Other business
USD 363 district officials also conducted the following business at Monday night's meeting:
* voted in favor of renewing premiums for property insurance with Keller-Leopold Insurance, despite a 16-percent rise in costs.
The district will be paying about $21,000 more this year, or roughly $160,000 total. Evancho said officials will have to cut costs or be extra vigilant about costs elsewhere over the course of the year to accommodate for the higher premium.
* authorized the hiring of Troy Krehbiel as a new assistant wrestling coach at Holcomb High School at the recommendation of its principal, Jarrod Stoppel.
* accepted the resignation of Holcomb Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Beth Moser, effective Oct. 23, following a closed session.
Evancho said Moser, who has been with the district for nearly 30 years, is a Title I teacher who was re-assigned to an open fifth-grade reading teaching position by administrators.
"This teacher is very capable, and (the administration) thought she would be a better match for reading," Evancho said, adding that school administrators were hoping to replace Moser's old position with a paraprofessional, in order to make the best use of its finances. "(Her resignation) is a loss for our district."
Moser was not available for comment this morning.
* School board members Jay Powers and Julie Chamberlain were absent at Monday's meeting due to a work conflict and illness, respectively, district officials said.
The next regularly scheduled board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 9. The public meetings are held at the Administration Center, 305 Wiley St. in Holcomb.
Found 2 comment(s)!
You have got to be kidding me . . . .
Unbelievable USD #363! When you fired the paras in the spring and moved a veteran 2nd grade teacher to the Title I program (a position she had no experience in) to join Moser, you, through Board president Tim Miller, assured us that the changes would actually improve the Title I program by providing those kids with two highly qualified teachers. (As reported in the Telegram this summer.) So, now you move the teacher with the most experience (years and years with the Title I program) out of the program with the intention of replacing her with a PARA?!? The fact that Moser has resigned seems to indicate that moving her to a 5th grade classroom was not a welcome change on her part. Under whose heavy-handed recommendation was that decision made? The bully who deserted the disrict and took his wife with him? That's a nice parting shot. So now, the kids in the district who are at the greatest academic risk (Title I students) are being taught by the least experienced (in this specific teaching field) teacher and possibly a para. May I translate how this decision appears to us citizens? Producing well-educated students is no longer a priority in Holcomb. You board members who are up for re-election soon should take the opportunity to enjoy what you have at the moment. It may not last . . .
Posted by: Concerned patron on 10/14/2009
Clarifications
#1 There is already a fifth grade reading teacher as well as math and social studies & science teacher for fifth grade. The writing teacher vacancy, not reading teacher as stated in the article, was created by allowing Lori O'Connor to leave with her husband. No vacancy for the postion was posted and now, there are two elementary vacancies. #2 The justification for cutting all the elementary para positions last spring was to provide an additional Title 1 teacher to support elementary at-risk students. Now 9 weeks into the school year, the "hope" is to cut that position when at risk numbers are increased and elementary class sizes are growing? #3 Enrollment is up, the mill levy has been increased and the school district receives federal funds to support the Title 1 program. Ask board members about how these services will be provided if indeed, a teaching position will not be filled by a certified teacher. Start attending board meetings to see if decisions and tax dollars being spent are making Holcomb students a priority!
Posted by: Concerned Patron on 10/14/2009
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