Diane Raver
The cutbacks have begun in the Sunman-Dearborn Community School Corp.
Sixteen positions were eliminated (please see box on page 2). When asked how they chose which ones to cut, President Kim Weber said personnel decisions are private.
About 125 people listened as two school nurses voiced their concerns about a reduction in their hours to trustees March 11 in the Sunman-Dearborn Middle School cafeteria.
Regarding the decrease in hours from eight to six, Sunman Elementary School nurse Denise Johnson asked, “Who will be responsible for the kids, and what liability will there be on our licenses? .... Who is going to decide what hours the nurses will be in the building?”
North Dearborn Elementary School nurse Joan Ireland added, “Our licenses are in jeopardy. If we have to train other people and they mess up, it takes our license away.
“Each school has different hours and different children that have to be dealt with .... I personally am really concerned about taking care of the little ones that are elementary age who cannot speak very well or are unable to communicate very well to someone who doesn’t know them.” She encouraged trustees to “think about the different hours .... so we’re getting the best for what we have.”
Superintendent Dr. Jeff Hendrix said, “If the board approves it (the reduction in hours), we will look at all the schedules and meet with the nurses and decide how we will cover the buildings .... We do have liability insurance for all the buildings.”
Trustees approved the decrease in nurses’ hours by a 6-1 vote.
They also unanimously approved a reduction of two 12-month secretarial positions to 10 months, a reduction in sick and paid holidays and the elimination of dental benefits for noncertified staff and a salary freeze based on experience for noncertified employees.
Other Business
l Trustees voted to move $1.2 million from the Capital Projects Fund and $200,000 from the Bus Replacement Fund into the Rainy Day Fund. They also agreed that the driver’s education program fee for the summer would remain the same as last year, $370.
l The 2010-11 school calendar was approved. The first day for students will be Aug. 18 with a graduation date of June 5. It also includes nine make-up days for inclement weather prior to graduation.
l For this year, Good Friday, April 2, will be a make-up day. The last student day is Monday, June 7, the day after East Central High School’s graduation. Hendrix stated that graduating seniors will also be expected to attend school that day because the state superintendent of public instruction says all students must attend 180 days.
