There are 45 fewer students in Hagerstown schools this year than there were four years ago.
This difference means the Nettle Creek School Corporation received $270,000 less in state funding this school year than it did during the 2013-2014 year.
Superintendent Bill Doering also informed the school board Wednesday that the cash on-hand balance had stabilized at $600,000 and was no longer increasing year after year.
The Nettle Creek School Board took action Wednesday to prepare itself in case the need arises to reduce the number of teachers and other staff on the payroll.
The school board voted 6-0 to suspend Policy 3131, the regulations dictating how and when they would decrease the number of teaching positions and, therefore, teachers. The board approved Administrative Guideline Number 1 in its place.
Board member Marcie Houghton was absent from the meeting.
Administrative Guideline 1 outlines that the school board, with advice from the superintendent, will determine when a reduction in force is “necessary, appropriate, or in the best interest of the school district.” The primary consideration will be “the maintenance of a sound and balanced educational program that is consistent with the functions and responsibilities of the school district,” the guideline states.
Hagerstown Jr./Sr. High School Social Studies teacher Glen Meek addressed the board before its vote.
“I just want to make sure everything is clear and transparent to people,” Meek said. “I think a lot of what we do here is really good. I think we agree on a lot. But I think with things that are coming to a turning point right now, I think there’s some parting of ways...The one thing I think we all have in common is we want to do what’s best for our kids.”
Meek said he understands that NCSC is facing declining enrollment and decreased operating dollars.
“But at some point the idea of reduction of staff comes at a cost,” he said. “Where we’re at currently staff-wise, I feel like anything we do is going to cost programs. And when programs go away, kids are going to go places where they can find those programs.”
Meek asked the school board to take into account upcoming teacher retirements and other anticipated staff changes that could affect payroll costs. He also suggested the corporation consider using the rainy day fund to supplement operating costs or even research short-term loans to get through difficult financial times.
“I don’t want to see us lose anybody else who’s good,” Meek said. “Your teachers are concerned and your community is concerned.”
Doering told the school board that the new reduction in force guidelines had been drafted with the help of Hagerstown teachers and their representatives. He thanked the teachers at Wednesday’s public meeting for their input and work to put the guidelines together.
“I know that this is very hard. I know that,” Doering said.
School board president Cary Rhoades pointed out that the board was only adopting new regulations and were not taking any action Wednesday to eliminate any positions or fire any teachers.
In other business, the Nettle Creek School Board talked with its attorney about possibly reorganizing the way district voters choose who sits on the board.
The district currently has seven residential districts, attorney Ron Cross explained. That means each board member has to live in that district. If they move to another district, they have to resign.
Board member Gary Keesling started the conversation because he is concerned about the lack of district candidates over the past two election cycles. The terms of three board members expire in 18 months and Keesling is concerned the board may be left with empty seats.
Cross told the board it could change the rules to create at-large seats. In that case, everyone in the Nettle Creek district would be able to vote on each candidate.
“If we open it up to the at-large seats, that opens it up for more people to participate,” Keesling said. “I thought we’d get more community excitement.”
Board member Elaine Hellwarth said she would prefer to see some combination of residential and at-large seats so that communities get to keep their local representation on the board.
Keesling, Hellwarth and board member Bob Clark volunteered to work with Doering to create a timeline for the board to make its decision on how to reorganize the election process and how to get input from all the local stakeholders.