More subs needed for SEG schools
MAPLETOWN – Absenteeism for teachers and students has been an ongoing problem for the Southeastern Greene School District, according to district administrators, and the school board recently voted to advertise for teaching positions in order to find some loyal and qualified people for positions left open by the retirement of seven teachers at the end of this school year. The five teaching positions that will be open in the high school are science, chemistry, social studies and two math, while two positions in the elementary school – a reading specialist and a technology teacher – will also be open.
Superintendent of the school district, Dr. Philip Savini Jr., said new teachers cannot be hired until the outgoing teachers have retired.
Connected to teacher absenteeism is the need for more substitutes. Savini said a shortage of substitute teachers is causing students to lose a portion of their education.
Fielding a question from Bobtown resident Patty Wise, who asked if students are still having a lot of substitute teachers, Savini said students are sometimes in the cafeteria watching films when their regular classroom teacher has taken the day off and no substitute is available.
“There’s no other explanation for it,” Savini said. “When your teachers are not here, you’re not getting educated.
“We advertised before and we can again,” he said. “We pay well. This has been an ongoing situation.”
Savini noted that the school district utilizes the Intermediate Unit 1’s substitute teacher list, but those teachers may go to another school that is more convenient for them.
“So, our kids are just going to lose out?” asked Wise.
“Unfortunately, there’s not much this board and administration can do,” Savini said.
“As a parent, I believe our kids’ grades are being affected by this,” said Wise, adding she doesn’t believe her child is up to date on current events.
Savini said teachers legitimately take off days, including personal days.
“We’re not the only one in this boat,” Savini said.
Director Ed Kamenos asked what students are doing when substitutes aren’t available.
“Are they learning anything?” he asked. “Or are they just watching films, playing basketball and getting in trouble?”
“I answer that with all the above,” replied Junior-Senior High School Principal Charles Brooks. Substitutes are at the school on almost a daily basis, he said.
“We’re losing time,” Brooks added.
The board voted 8-0 to advertise for the open teaching positions in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and on the Internet, as well as in the district’s two standard newspapers, the Herald-Standard and the Observer-Reporter. The board hopes to reach graduating college students, especially education majors.
Director Joe Spiker was absent because of work-related reasons Thursday, according to board President Sandy Theis.
Meanwhile, district Co-Athletic Director George Messich asked that people’s thoughts and prayers go out to district Assistant Football Coach Tommy Horner, who Sunday was injured in a motorcycle accident in Waynesburg. Horner, 22, has been coaching with the school district for three years. He is in the Intensive Care Unit at Ruby Memorial Hospital, but doing well, said Messich.
The board also conducted the following business:
– Passed, without a tax increase, a tentative 2006-07 budget in the amount of $9,558,083. Director Ginny Eberhart questioned if the budget would allow for a one-mill decrease in taxes. Business Manager Patrick Sweeney said he cannot answer that question given the current nature of teacher negotiations. Since the budget is preliminary, board members can choose to amend it, he said.
– Failed to pass the 2006-07 Greene County Career and Technology Center budget, which totaled $2,890,853 and has the Southeastern Greene School District contributing $235,026 of that amount.
Director Dr. Thomas Howard, who serves on the operating committee for the Career and Technology Center, stated his disagreement with a 5.37 percent increase in the budget from last year’s spending plan. He said the increase was in the personnel area, noting retirement and health benefits costs.
“They are living up to their obligation under the collective bargaining agreement,” Howard said.
Despite his disagreement, Howard voted to approve the budget, which failed to pass 2-6.
– Voted to purchase 17 varsity cheerleader uniforms at a cost not to exceed $3,100.
– Awarded two plaques to outgoing board member Gary Moser for his 20 years of service to the school district. The board accepted Moser’s resignation in February.
– Hired Mike Caruso as an administrative consultant at $300 per day. Eberhart, chair of the education committee, said Caruso’s expertise is needed to work on programs for special-needs students and their placement in home schools, instead of at Penn Pitt in Greensboro. The home school placement would save the district on travel costs, said Eberhart.
– Hired a security guard for the junior-senior high school. The guard will be paid $11.50 per hour not to exceed 40 hours per week and will report to Principal Brooks.
– Entered into executive session for personnel matters.
– Announced the next regular meeting will take place May 25 at 7 p.m. in the junior-senior high cafeteria, while a special meeting called for general purposes will be held May 11 at 6:30 p.m. Theis said the electrical system upgrade will be discussed at the special meeting.
– At the regular monthly meeting in March, the board awarded a contract to Zalar Busing at an approximate cost of $3,756,000 over a five-year period and approximately $722,000 for the first year. Business Manager Sweeney said Zalar was the lowest proposal, while Laidlaw was the second lowest. Laidlaw submitted a proposal for approximately $3,850,000 for over five years and approximately $732,000 for the first year.
Three Laidlaw employees were on hand at the April board meeting and said they will be losing their jobs when Laidlaw’s contract with the district expires in June.
Sweeny said Zalar was chosen because it was an opportunity for the district to save money.
“That’s what we have to look at from a district standpoint,” he said.
Sweeney said the district also will save money – close to $250,000 – because of their decision to switch to one busing company, instead of, as they currently do, paying three different companies to transport students. The district currently spends $761,000 on the three different companies, according to Sweeny.
Zalar Busing will begin their duties at the start of the 2006-07 school year.