Niles school board to lay off 9 teachers, 1 janitor
By Jordan Cohen
District officials plan to meet with the state on new school construction options.
NILES — The board of education followed through with its plan to eliminate a $1.5 million deficit and voted to lay off nine teachers and one custodian for the next school year.
The reduction in force is only one of a series of cuts, which had been announced during last month’s board meeting.
The layoffs include two kindergarten instructors, three intervention specialists, second- and third-grade teachers, and instructors in special education and physical education.
The news given out Thursday night wasn’t all bad for physical education teacher Marc Fritz, who, despite losing his teaching job, was appointed athletic director under a one-year limited supplemental contract.
Two important elements of the deficit reduction plan are attrition and anticipated retirements, but Superintendent Rocco Adduci warned that the board may have to consider other cutbacks if the retirement numbers fall short.
“If we do not receive those retirements, then our steps will have to be reviewed,” Adduci said. The superintendent did not indicate whether an additional reduction in force might be necessary.
In order to avoid being placed under state fiscal emergency, the board’s plan must be approved by the Ohio Department of Education.
“I expect them to approve our actions when we meet with them,” Adduci said.
The superintendent added he expects a meeting possibly next week with the Ohio School Facilities Commission to determine which of two building options the district plans to pursue.
Adduci said no decision has been made, but administrators are believed to be looking more closely at the first option, which includes construction of a new high school and two elementary schools.
The board also took these actions:
UAwarded a contract for stairwell repairs at Bo Rein Stadium to JADCO Construction Services for $119,000, the lowest of six bids. Repair work is expected to begin May 1 and be completed by mid-August. Local philanthropist Tony Lariccia of Boardman recently donated $100,000 to help cover the costs of repairs. Adduci said the American Cancer Society Relay for Life event will be in the stadium in early May, but the stairwells will be closed.
UApproved a one-year contract with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield for school employee health and life insurance benefits. The cost to the district, said Treasurer Linda Molinaro, is “approximately $3.6 million.” Molinaro said the amount is 12 percent higher than last year, but that amount is already budgeted.