CENTERBURG — The Centerburg school board on Monday voted to implement a reduction in force due to financial reasons. The board eliminated one seventh- to 12th-grade math position and one sixth- to 12th- grade physical edcucation position. As a result, the contracts of math instructor Michelle Ball and physical education teacher Ami Stevens were suspended. Treasurer Ellen Scott told the News on Tuesday fine-tuning the scheduling with the reductions is expected to make the best use of the remaining teachers.
The board considered, then tabled, a proposal to eliminate the family and consumer science program. Scott said some students and a couple of parents were at the meeting to speak in favor of keeping the program.
Scott said the district’s financial outlook is bleak but controllable at this point. “Due to our reaction to the fiscal crisis,” she said, “we have managed to make some cuts and should end up the year just about breaking even. It’s not going to continue that way. We’re still in deficit spending, but we do have a balance at this time.’
Besides accepting the resignation of high school principal Mark McDaniel, the board accepted letters of resignation from Lori Lybarger as middle school student council adviser, first-grade teacher Shelly Arnold and middle school/high school music teacher Mary Beth Lee.
