Officials propose cuts in personnel

A state oversight board will decide on cuts.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LORDSTOWN -- A physical education teacher, elementary school principal and transportation coordinator are among the Lordstown schools personnel who may be looking for work next school year.
At a meeting Tuesday, Superintendent Raymond Getz submitted the administration's recommendations for personnel reductions to the state oversight commission. The savings would be $540,587.
That savings, however, may be reduced if those affected by the cuts exercise bumping rights. These rights enable a person with more seniority whose position is being cut to take a position in another area for which they are certified from a person with less seniority.
Seniority list: Mark A. Ferrara, district treasurer, said the administration needs to ensure that its seniority list is up to date to determine the amount the proposed savings could be reduced through bumping.
The elementary school principal position is among those recommended to be cut at an estimated savings of $63,430. That post has been occupied this year by Joe Agresta, who is paid on a per diem basis. The list also includes three positions left vacant this year through retirements and transfers.
James Levero, commission chairman, said a representative from the Ohio Department of Education will be in the district next week to determine the effect of proposed cuts on the quality of education. The representative will report his findings to commission members who then will decide how to proceed.
"We can accept all of the recommendations, none of the recommendations, some of the recommendations or make more reductions," Levero said.
Fiscal emergency: The oversight commission was appointed in January after state Auditor Jim Petro's office declared the district in fiscal emergency, citing a projected $1.3 million deficit by June 30. The commission has until May 10 to develop a financial recovery plan for the district.
Levero said the commission hopes to decide on the recommendations for cuts by the middle of April. The next commission meeting is 10 a.m. April 11 in the high school media center.
District voters will decide in May whether to approve a five-year 10.2-mill levy for the district to generate about $1.3 million annually. But money that may come in from the levy can't be included in the financial recovery plan.
A small group of teachers and staff attended Tuesday's meeting to hear the recommendations.
"I hope the commission makes its own independent assessment of what needs to be done," said Terry Grimm of the Lordstown Teachers Association. Grimm retired in December as the district's technology coordinator.
"We see the interaction between teachers and students as the core activity of our schools, and we're in favor of not needlessly tearing apart an exceptional team of quality educators," he said.
J.C. Gibson, a member of the board of education, said his main concern is maintaining the district's quality of education.
"These are really serious cuts," he said. "We want to make sure we're not impacting the educational quality we have here. I ask the commission to take that into consideration. I think we have one of the best school systems in Trumbull County."