SHARON SCHOOLS Board lays off 3, cuts hours

The school board eliminated more than 17 positions in the new fiscal year.
SHARON, Pa. -- Sharon City School Board has wrapped up loose ends in its 2003-04 budget, voting to furlough one part-time teacher and two aides and cutting another teacher from full-time to half-time status.
Dr. Donna DeBonis, superintendent, said the $22.8 million budget with a 7.9-mill property-tax increase cut the equivalent of 17.4 positions in the district, most through resignations or retirements.
However, the board voted Wednesday to furlough Jane Sham from her position as a three-eighths-time world language teacher, citing a decrease in pupil enrollment and a curtailment of that educational program. The board also voted to furlough Ann Bober and Lori Kinder, two instructional aides.
Music department
Cynthia Ward, a music teacher, was cut from full-time to half-time status, again because of a decrease in pupil enrollment.
Michelle Wiseman, who was working half-time as a music teacher, resigned, and that action, combined with the reduction in time for Ward, cut the music department from 5.5 to 4.5 positions, DeBonis said.
The board also took action to make sure it has adequate teaching staff for the start of classes in the fall.
It accepted the resignations of two elementary teachers, hired two new elementary teachers to replace them, hired a middle school reading teacher to fill a vacancy and hired five long-term substitutes to fill temporary vacancies for teachers on leave. Other staff adjustments are likely before school begins, school officials said.