St. Marys board votes to reinstate positions

ST. MARYS - School board members Wednesday voted to reinstate some of the advisor and assistant coaching positions that had been eliminated years ago due to funding cuts.

Board member Brian Little during the regular meeting asked to bring back advisors for the middle and high school student council, middle school Power of the Pen, high school National Honor Society and girls and boys varsity basketball assistant coaches. The action would cost $10,780 per year, he noted.

The board voted four to one in favor of the motion with member Bob Valentine voting against it. Valentine said treasurer Tom Sommer's most recent five-year forecast showed the school's financial situation has not improved. He noted the forecast revealed a possible deficit by fiscal year 2018 with the likelihood of a new levy request needed by 2016.

Little said the money would be well spent.

"How can we continue to not have Power of the Pen or National Honor Society?" he asked, adding the programs and additional coaching improve the quality of the school and bring in more funding.

Valentine agreed the programs and coaches are assets. However, he said they were just as important when they were cut but were still eliminated for financial reasons.

Board members said they will consider reinstating additional advisor and assistant coaching positions at future meetings.

Fifty to 60 teachers and other supporters were present Wednesday with signs and matching red T-shirts, as contract negotiations continue between the board and the teachers' union.

The board met in executive session to discuss the negotiations but no action was taken. Negotiations began in June. The one-year contract expired Aug. 31.

The St. Marys Education Association agreed to a pay freeze for the teachers in 2009-10 and 2010-11, a 1 percent pay decrease in 2011-12 and a wage freeze again in the most recent contract.

Step increases - based on continuing education and experience - remained in each of the past contracts. The teachers are working under the terms of the expired contract until a new deal can be reached.

Little thanked the teachers for coming and said the board is working to create a solution that will please both sides.
In other business, board members passed a resolution to refinance the bonds used for the construction of the high school/middle school in 2010. By refinancing to a lower interest rate, taxpayers would save an estimated $733,212 in interest paid through 2035, Sommer said.

The current bond interest rate is 3.5 to 4 percent. Sommer noted he will not know the new interest rate until Fifth Third Bank completes the refinancing.

Taxpayers began repaying the $25.75 million loan in 2008 and so far have paid $2.68 million. Sommer said the savings would not pay off the bonds sooner but would decrease the amount paid each year.

The board also passed an accompanying resolution to include a compliance policy with the refinancing resolution. Sommer said it is a formality that must be completed with refinancing.

Prior to the regular board meeting, the Policy, Program and Planning Committee, including board members Valentine and Travis Kuenning, discussed changing the district policy to include board members in the review of textbook purchases and other curricula.

Valentine requested the board be given 30 days to review selected curriculum before voting for its implementation. Brown said the board hires teachers to select that curriculum and they should be trusted to make the best decisions for their classrooms. However, he suggested forming a committee of two board members and maybe community members to help in the selection process.

Director of Instruction Cary Roehm agreed with Brown, saying teachers are experts in their field and in curriculum selection and should be allowed to do their jobs.

"Why would teachers choose something that would put a black mark on this district?" she asked.

Roehm added, however, that if the board votes to form a committee, the policy should include language that limits its involvement. She said calling the committee for every small item used in lesson plans is unnecessary and unfair to teachers. She said the committee should be called only for textbook purchases that exceed $10,000.

No agreement was made; the committee voted not to move forward with the request at this time.

Also on Wednesday, board members,

• recognized 14 teachers and staff members who retired in 2013. The 14 have given 325 1/2 years of service to St. Marys schools.

• approved various substitute, hourly and supplemental contracts.

• learned the district has 54 open-enrolled students from other districts and 138 St. Marys students attending elsewhere. Students who left the district are attending Wapakoneta (38), New Knoxville (33), New Bremen (19) and Celina (15).

The number of students open-enrolled in the district increased by about 20 students over previous years.

• passed a resolution to solicit bids for depository contracts for a period of five years, Jan. 1, 2015-Dec. 31, 2019. Sommer said all financial institutions require depository contracts and the current contracts expire at the end of the year.

• approved increasing the athletic department change fund from $1,300 to $2,000. The increase is needed to cover change for those buying tickets to athletic events.