LORDSTOWN SCHOOLS Staff cutbacks concern parents
One parent collected nearly 300 signatures from residents opposed to eliminating the school nurse's post.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LORDSTOWN -- Beth Krempasky and Bonnie Taylor worry about the health of their sons, both of whom are diabetic, if the Lordstown school nurse position is eliminated.
The nurse position is one of several to be eliminated at the end of this year to help the district get out of fiscal emergency.
Both women expressed their concerns Wednesday to members of the fiscal oversight commission appointed to oversee school district finances after state Auditor Jim Petro declared the district in fiscal emergency.
Also targeted: The other positions to be eliminated are elementary principal, maintenance worker, custodian, transportation coordinator, secretary, cafeteria worker, technology coordinator, librarian, a physical education teacher, an industrial arts teacher and an elementary art teacher. A part-time English and a part-time math teaching position also will be cut.
Krempasky collected nearly 300 signatures from district residents opposed to the elimination of the nurse's position. The school nurse and Krempasky's son's teacher helped her son, Ryan, 5, who is in kindergarten, a few weeks ago when the boy suffered a diabetic attack.
She worries about the outcome if the nurse hadn't been there.
Restricted by contract: Only the school nurse may administer a glucagon shot if a child needs it, she said. Teachers are prohibited by the contract, Krempasky said. She also questioned why sports weren't put on the chopping block rather than the nurse, elementary school principal and teaching positions.
Taylor's son, Jimmy, 13, a seventh-grader at the high school, was diagnosed with diabetes when he was 2 and learned two weeks ago that he is asthmatic.
"That's two chronic illnesses," she said.
Although Jimmy has never had any serious health problems while in school, Taylor worries about who will help him if he does and there isn't a school nurse.
Recommendations for personnel cuts, including the school nurse, were made by the school district administration last month. The fiscal oversight commission passed a resolution Wednesday cutting the recommended positions with a condition.
Deadline set: The administration must provide an implementation plan for dealing with the cuts to the commission by June 30.
"We had some concerns also," said James Levero, commission chairman.
Those concerns were part of the reason commission members didn't vote on the recommended cuts before Wednesday.
If the commission isn't satisfied with the plan, it can reinstate a position, he said.
"We understand your concerns and we're doing everything we can to see that those concerns are met," said Walter Craigo, commission member.
Levero also said extracurricular activities, such as sports, also are being considered as areas where cuts may be made.
"Everything is still on the table," he said. "We've asked the administration and the board to take a look at that."
The next commission meeting is 10 a.m. April 24.