With a simple vote of "aye," the Austin School Board eliminated more than 15 teaching positions and additional staff positions.

Wednesday, April 11, 2001

With a simple vote of "aye," the Austin School Board eliminated more than 15 teaching positions and additional staff positions. Although the votes were easily spoken, the feelings behind the vote were clearly mixed.

"Again, this is an unwelcome procedure and process," board chairman Dave Simonson said in calling to order a Tuesday meeting to approve budget adjustments, "but we have to make these cuts."

Members of the board said the cuts are necessary to balance the 2001-2002 budget, which is currently showing an $800,000 deficit, due largely in part to a lack of funding from the state.

Although some positions were voted out of the district’s budget with little discussion, three positions brought lengthy discussion and debate. They were: the Cedar River Education District grants coordinator, currently held by Sue Roehrich; the high-potential coordinator, currently held by Teresa Becker-Ersland; and Austin High School agriculture teacher Christie Shook.

The high-potential coordinator position, currently held by Becker-Ersland, was eliminated, in order to restructure the position.

"We need a person who can be a coordinator and a curriculum director in high-potential areas. I would be in support of the cut so we can bring back a better product," board member Kathy Green said.

The position cut means savings after the restructuring will not be calculated into the budget at this time. It also means the position and who will fill it is up in the air, because Becker-Ersland is leaving the position at the end of this school year.

Roehrich, who had not planned to leave her position as the Cedar River Education District and grants coordinator, finds herself in a state of flux after Tuesday’s vote. Like with the high-potential position, Roehrich’s position is being eliminated to restructure the position, but will remain off the budget adjustments until after the restructuring.

One of the options discussed is for the superintendent to take on the responsibilities of the position, but board member Amy Baskin said, "I don’t think it can be done."

Roehrich said when she was hired in August she understood the position would mostly entail work on the curriculum. Since then, however, 50 percent of her time has been spent seeking or maintaining grants and 25 percent has been spent coordinating the Cedar River Education District.

"We fought long and hard for a curriculum director," Baskin said. "I’m frustrated the curriculum position is not designed to be effective."

"If (the position) continues as is, the curriculum will take a back seat and grants a front seat," Green said.

Simonson suggested the board discuss curriculum foci with district principals as part of the position restructuring process.

As to whether or not she will reapply when the position is restructured, Roehrich said, "I will have to wait and see what the job description is." Since the restructuring process may take more than a month, Roehrich said she will need to decide what she is going to do.

Through a verbal argument at the public comments portion of Monday’s school board meeting and a proposal she produced and presented to the board members on Tuesday, Shook was able to make a strong case for the continuance of the part-time agriculture program.

Shook, who will be leaving the district at the end of the 2000-2001 school year, currently serves as an agriculture, English as a second language and welding teacher, as well as the school’s dance coach.

"It might be hurting us more than helping us in the long run," board member Richard Lees said of the loss of the agriculture program in a city where agriculture is the major employer.

"I would echo Mr. Lees’ concerns as well. If we get another person of Ms. Shook’s caliber, the program will grow," Baskin said. One of the issues that influenced the board’s vote was the fact that losing agriculture classes would eliminate the Future Farmers of America chapter at the high school, which currently contains 29 active members. In addition, the students who attend agriculture classes were described as niche students, who respond better to the program than they do to other classes they attend at the high school.

After the meeting, Shook expressed her relief at the vote, as well as another reaction: "I’m surprised. I didn’t know what to expect." Shook said the program curriculum will need to be reassessed. In her proposal to the board, Shook suggested adding core science classes centered on agriculture subjects, such as environmental sciences or food sciences.

Student Kelly Wicks, who plans to run for a regional FFA office next year and was present at the meeting, said she would have joined through another city’s chapter if the board had cut local funding. According to another student, Kendall Diggins, finding students for the program should not be a problem. The goal for the agriculture problem, she said, should center on offering classes at a time conducive to students’ schedules. Diggins said last year’s (1999-2000) small animals class was overcrowded, because it was only offered once during the school day.

The district is seeking an agriculture teacher to fill Shook’s position for the new year, as well as a way to bring interest and new ideas to the program.

"We want this area to grow," board member Green said.

The only other item that was eliminated from the district’s adjustment proposal was a $1,000 savings from sharing the hosting of events with other districts, because the board members were concerned doing so would reduce revenue from the events. The issue was tabled for more discussion.