MUNSTER | The Munster school board voted to lay off 50 non-certified staff members, most of them effective Jan. 30 with a few hanging on until the school year ends.
School board members approved the proposal unanimously, with only board member, John Friend, arriving minutes after the vote.
Munster schools Superintendent Jeff Hendrix said the reductions in staff began with the school district's non-certified staff, which includes aides, custodians and secretaries.
Hendrix made it clear during a special board meeting Thursday, school leaders would next look at certified staff, which includes teachers and administrators. Certified staff are under contract and the district has to follow state law and timelines for notification if any positions are reduced. That timeline is not activated until May 1.
Some of the employees who are being eliminated had been with the district more than 20 years and one had just been hired and had only worked a day so far, Hendrix said.
Munster School Board President Paula Nellans said she has been on the board more than 20 years and this is the most difficult thing that she has ever had to do. "Everyone is family," she said.
"We've never had to make such a hard decision, and it's not on a whim. We've cut energy expenses and other things but we've still been hit with less and less money. It's not a choice. We must keep ourselves solvent."
New board member Ron Ostojic questioned the process to eliminate employees.
Hendrix said he met with the central office team and building principals and talked about who could be reduced at this time. "We believe we have people who will step up, teachers who will provide the best opportunities for our students. Principals, everyone will be expected to do more. Our teachers will continue providing the best instruction to help our children continue to be successful," Hendrix said.
Hendrix also said he, Assistant Superintendent Steve Tripenfeldas and/or building principals met with each person who will receive a pink slip. In addition, because some of the employees weren't eligible for a severance package the district will pay them for vacation and sick days, so they don't walk away with nothing.
"Steve, the building principals and I really struggled through this process of telling people they would lose their job, their livelihood," Hendrix said. "We had tears. Even though I haven't been here that long, I appreciate the people who said it's all about the kids. We're going to overcome this and be stronger. I know it's hard. I wish all of them well.
"There are going to be more sacrifices ahead. We will continue to struggle and limp along until the state fixes the budget. We don't want to be the school corporation to turn the keys over to the state of Indiana and say you run it," Hendrix said.
In the last few months, school leaders said the district has an $8 million deficit despite a general fund referendum that passed in May 2013. The school district will receive an extra $3 million a year for seven years but Hendrix said that isn't enough to clear the deficit; it will only keep the district from going further into debt.
Hendrix has said the root of the problem is the school funding formula. He said high-performing districts like Munster receive less than the state average of about $5,800 per pupil.
In December, the district received its final tax disbursement for 2014 and discovered it was $2.22 million short because of an unusually high number of settled property tax appeals. That further compounded its budget problems. Hendrix said earlier this week, the district normally has a collection rate of 96 percent to 98 percent, but it received less than 90 percent for its last tax disbursement for the year.