ASHLAND —
Proposed faculty cuts at Paul G. Blazer High School attracted a sizable group of concerned parents and teachers to the Ashland Board of Education’s regular meeting Monday evening.
Under its proposed staffing allocations for the 2013-14 academic year, the high school would lose a total of six teaching positions. School officials say the cuts are necessary to bring the school’s budget in line with what the district is expected to receive in state funding.
But Blazer Principal Derek Runyon told the board he was concerned that eliminating so many teachers could compromise the school’s academic programs.
“Simply put, there’s no way, shape or form in which we can do this without hurting students,” he said. “My concern is that anything we do is going to impact student achievement in some form or fashion.”
Runyon said the proposed cuts, along with others that have previously been made, would amount to a nearly 20 percent staff reduction in the six years he has been Blazer principal.
He told the board he and the school’s site-based council had come up with a list of teaching positions that could be eliminated with the least amount of impact, and that he’d spoken with the teachers on the list to let them know their jobs might not be available next year.
Dwindling enrollment is the principle reason the cuts are necessary. According to Superintendent Steve Gilmore, Blazer currently has 858 students, but its faculty budget is for a school with more than 1,000 pupils. State funding is based on a school’s average daily attendance.
But Runyon said deep cuts in the high school’s faculty could cause enrollment to drop even more. If the school has to eliminate certain courses because it doesn’t have the teachers for them, some students might choose to transfer to other schools that offer similar courses, he said.
Board Member Charlie Chatfield questioned Runyon over why he hadn’t consulted with central office staff in determining which positions to eliminate and how to go about lessening the impact of the cuts.
“Seeing as how you’ve presented this almost as a death penalty with regard to continuing the high standards at Paul Blazer High School, why would you not reach out to everyone available to determine what would be the best course of action?” he asked.
Runyon said he hadn’t done so because he believed those determinations would best be made by people in the school building. But, he said he was certainly open to consulting with central office personnel in the coming months.
Gilmore said he believed that might be the best way to find “creative solutions” to the matter.
“It may not be the best scenario for next year, but it might be a workable one,” he said.
Board member Frank DeMartino said the school system was likely to have to find other “creative solutions” to staffing issues in the future because the district’s enrollment was likely to continue to shrink.
“Let’s be blunt — this (enrollment) is going to keep going this way. It’s not going to get any better,” he said.
KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.
Local News
Blazer faculty cuts spark concern
- Local News
-
-
AT&T to hire 140 workers at East Park
For the next few months, AT&T officials have announced they will hire 20 people per month until they have filled 140 customer-service positions at the East Park Call Center in the industrial park between Grayson and Ashland.
-
Boards close to agreement on students
The Greenup and Russell school districts are close to an agreement on families that want to send their children to school out of their own district.
-
Memory Days to start Thursday
Memory Days volunteers invite everyone to “Come to Grayson to remember and be remembered,” during this year’s 43rd annual festival Thursday through Sunday.
-
Man arrested for using forged checks
The following information was taken from Ashland Police Department reports:
-
What's happening: 5/21/13
Cruzin on the Plaza will be Friday through Sunday at Pullman Plaza.
-
Huge tornado hits Oklahoma City suburb, kills 51
A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds up to 200 mph. At least 51 people were killed, and officials said the death toll was expected to rise.
-
What you need to know about preparing for tornadoes
Tornado survivors and seasoned observers suggest people do two simple things to prepare for tornadoes: Know where to take shelter, and move quickly when the time comes.
-
VIDEO: How technology helps predict tornadoes
At the National Storm Prediction Center in Oklahoma, the team charged with predicting tornadoes relies on ever-changing technology to determine when and where storms may strike.
-
LIVE BLOG: Massive tornado hits south of OKC
A massive tornado touched down Monday afternoon in Moore, Okla., just south of Oklahoma City. Follow live coverage of the aftermath of the storm.
-
3 of Farmer’s ag department staff admit to ethics violation
Three former employees of Richie Farmer’s agriculture department have agreed to settlements with the Executive Branch Ethics Commission, accepting reprimands and fines.
- More Local News Headlines
-
AT&T to hire 140 workers at East Park
Huge Tornado Kills Dozens Near Oklahoma City
Raw: Rescuers Pull Tornado Survivors to Safety
Oklahoma Gov: 'Hearts Are Broken' After Tornado
Raw: Walking in a Flattened Okla. Neighborhood
Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School
Raw: Witness Describes Scene After Okla. Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma
Raw: House Burns After Massive Oklahoma Tornado
Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma
Split-second Choice Ended With NY Student Dead
White House Backs 'Shield Law' for Media
Wave of Attacks Kills Scores in Iraq
Pug Life on Display at Wisconsin Festival
Company Promises to Make All Snail Mail Digital
Analyst: Tumblr Fills Void in Yahoo's Offerings
Commuters Face Delays After Conn. Train Accident
Raw: Swarm of Tornadoes Slams Plains
Raw: Fierce Bombing in Qusair, Syria
RAW: TV Staff Take Cover From Tornado
Raw: Accused US Spy Reportedly Leaves Russia
