Four long-term substitute teachers, 18 probationary teachers and two tenured teachers in the Austin Independent School District lost their jobs today.

Monday, May 01, 2000

Four long-term substitute teachers, 18 probationary teachers and two tenured teachers in the Austin Independent School District lost their jobs today.

They were victims of district-wide budget cuts being made to restore the district’s financial solvency.

In addition, a restructuring of the school district’s administrative offices was ordered that will result in a $67,571 savings.

David Simonson, chairperson of the Austin Board of Education, said the school district’s administration and school board will continue to evaluate other areas to be targeted for spending reductions.

"There are definitely going to be some repercussions," he said.

Simonson said the district’s administration and school board will continue to make District No. 492 a "student-centered school district."

"We will do everything we can to give the students the education they need," Simonson said.

Dr. James Hess, Austin’s superintendent of schools, said the district’s central office administration will continue to look at future areas where spending can be cut.

Presently, the district has made $830,000 in spending reductions and is 96 percent of the way toward its goal to begin making the district "financially healthy again."

Hess called the board’s action, which were all made by unanimous votes of the members, permanent.

"They are permanent reductions," Hess said.

"Any help we may get from the Minnesota Legislature will be used to judiciously review our list of reductions to see if any should be restored," he said.

By the 2000-2001 school year, the district will have two of three funds, now bathed in red ink, in the black, according to Hess.

Kathryn Green, one of four new school board members elected last November said the cuts are a two-edged sword.

"Some will lead to efficiencies in our streamlining of the delivery of education," Green said. "However, the cuts at the high school will lead to enlarged class size.

Will the district be able to deliver a quality secondary education?

"I think so," said Green.

Substitutes

Long-term substitute teachers who were terminated include: Mark D. Anderson, Anne Koch, Marcia Rietsma and Tina Watkins.

Anderson is an educational behavioral disorder teachers at The Bank School and Rietsma is an EBD teacher at the Minnesota Sheriff’s Youth Programs’ Austin Ranch School.

Koch is an occupational therapist at Woodson Community School. Watkins teachers first grade at Banfield Elementary School.

Probationary teachers who were cut follow:

Austin High School teachers: Virginia Anderson, business education, Andrea Becker, lifework/mentorship, Jodell Bromeland, counselor, Jill Hewitt, English as a Second Language, Stephanie Hiatt, media generalist, Ronald Stoick, industrial technologies.

Sumner Elementary School: Gia Davison, kindergarten/extended day, Julie Oakland, art/primary.

Neveln Elementary School: Brenda Hackesmith, primary, Janice Sisson, primary.

Banfield Elementary School: Barbara Hunter, primary, Nancy Meyer, music,