Youngstown school officials given more freedom
By Denise Dick
Youngstown
The commission overseeing the city school district’s academic recovery has given administrators more freedom to trim staff and determine class size but wants the final say on any district reorganization.
The commission on Thursday eliminated the effective date and notice requirements regarding teacher layoffs.
Under the teachers’ contract, the district must notify teachers by April 30 if they are on the reduction-in-force list for the next school year. Last year, though, the Academic Distress Commission returned some rights to the district that had been relinquished in employee contracts.
A resolution passed by the commission Thursday gives the district the authority to implement a RIF of personnel without being required to adhere to the effective date and notice requirements contained in the contract.
The superintendent should attempt to provide at least 30 days written notice of the effective date of a layoff to an employee and must provide in writing to the commission determinations regarding layoffs or RIFs including a financial analysis.
The resolution cites the district’s financial difficulties. The district faces a $4 million decrease in state funds next year because of drop in enrollment. A levy is expected to be placed on the November ballot, as a levy passed in 2008 expires at year’s end.
Another resolution passed by the commission Thursday allows the district to determine class size including the districtwide student-to-teacher ratio to address “financial and budgetary exigencies.”
At the same time it restored some management rights to the district, the commission passed another resolution requiring its approval for any district reorganization. Such reorganization includes “grade-level building assignments.”
Any reorganization plan must be presented to the commission in writing including “its purpose, goals, timeline and impact” on the academic-recovery plan.
Thee meeting also saw approval of an updated recovery plan for the district, the over-arching goal of which is to establish conditions “that cause the YADC to cease to exist.” To make that happen, the district must be designated at least continuous improvement for two-consecutive years on the state report card.
The updated plan calls for community engagement, increased student choice, academic credit flexibility, principal professional development, up-to-date Ohio standards for subject areas and regular financial reports.
Adrienne O’Neill, commission chairwoman, said the updated plan is not a final document.
“We’re looking at updating every time we meet from now until eternity,” she said.
Superintendent Connie Hathorn said the plan is achievable.
“There’s nothing in there we can’t do,” he said.