MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Niles teacher laid off

The union and state officials plan to fight the single layoff.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- After removing one name from the layoff list, board of education members voted to suspend the contract of a middle school music teacher.
By a 4-1 vote, the board agreed at a special meeting Thursday to lay off Antonio Silvestri, the music teacher who's been with Niles City Schools for four years. The measure is expected to save the district $40,000 next year in its effort to reduce debt and stay out of state-imposed fiscal emergency status.
"It's bad enough to be [laid off]," Silvestri said. "But imagine being the only one."
Item removed
A second teacher, Kelly S. Newbrough, was named on the agenda to have his contract nonrenewed as well, but board members removed that item with no explanation. Newbrough is a math teacher at the high school.
Board President John H. Davis cast the dissenting vote, commenting that he believed district teachers already had done their share in helping the schools' financial situation.
By the end of the 2002-03 school year, 22 teachers throughout the district either resigned or retired, were laid off or were nonrenewed. So far this year, 14 teachers and counselors have announced they will retire by July 31.
The retirements came in the wake of an incentive bonus the district offered in an effort to reduce staffing, save money and avoid layoffs.
Herman Pipe, a labor relations consultant with the Ohio Education Association, which represents the Niles teachers union, said he and other union members will work to save Silvestri's job.
"The state auditor said [Niles City Schools] needed to reduce 10 positions," he said, referring to a recent performance audit conducted by the Ohio auditor's office. "This local gave them 14."
Violation alleged
Pipe said the master contract between the board and the teachers union was violated by the layoff, and he and union representatives plan to look into several options, including filing a grievance or working with the State Employment Relations Board.
Also during the meeting, the board approved a five-year financial forecast and financial recovery plan for the district. Superintendent Patrick N. Guliano said the documents will be faxed to the Ohio Department of Education today.
The district had until today to approve and submit the plan, which state officials will study to determine if the district should be kept in fiscal watch, released from that status, or placed in fiscal emergency.
The current forecast shows the district will end the 2004 fiscal year with a zero balance and the 2005 fiscal year with a balance of $1,951. The document shows the schools will end the 2007 fiscal year with a negative balance of $300,939.
Extension granted
The ODE granted a 30-day extension to the district to prepare the documents because of ongoing negotiations with its support staff union, which represents bus drivers, cafeteria workers, secretaries and more. The board and the union reached a tentative agreement Monday, and the 122 members of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 365 will meet at 3:45 p.m. today to vote on the pact.
Guliano said even if the union votes against the contract, it will not affect the recovery plan submitted to the state.
He added that local officials expect to hear from the ODE by next week if the plan is approved.
slshaulis@vindy.com