District strikes two more jobs through attrition
The Bethlehem Central School District is implementing changes in its administrative hierarchy that officials say will save about $170,000 in the coming year.
While staff reductions were part of about $1.9 million in cuts to the coming year’s budget, others came more recently as some administrators decided to retire or move to other areas. The district has been striving to find ways to pinch pennies, said Superintendent Michael Tebbano.
I think the fiscal times are such that we have to be creative with our positions, said Tebbano. `We’re trying to be conscious of our fiduciary responsibility.`
While the district went through a round of layoffs associated with the budget cutbacks in the spring, the most recent changes were made through attrition.
Julie Heller will take over the role of English language arts supervisor from Anthony Bango, who will retire from his secondary ELA supervision role.
Heller will also take over elementary ELA supervision from Patty Skiba, who is electing to return to the classroom, making it possible to eliminate that position. Rolling both ELA jobs into one will save $100,000, according to the district.
`I’m honored to be joining a team of such accomplished professionals,` Heller said in a statement. `The dedication Bethlehem’s reading and English teachers have to increasing the depth and breadth of students’ literacy skills as a means of preparing them to be successful members of this 21st century is exciting, and I look forward to being a part of this initiative.`
Heller was previously the K-12 coordinator of English language arts and library research in the Schenectady City School District. Prior to that, she was the K-12 ELA supervisor in the Mohonasen Central School District.
Another incoming subject supervisor will be David Hurst, who will replace math supervisor Greg Sterling. Hurst comes to BC from the East Greenbush Central School District, where he was the director of mathematics, science and technology since 2009.
`I am very excited to begin working with the many talented people of the Bethlehem Central School District and to be contributing my experiences and abilities to its continued success,` Hurst said in a statement.
Additionally, a vacancy on the Committee on Special Education will be left vacant, for a savings of about $70,000. Chairwoman Kerri Brown’s position will be covered by the two remaining members of the committee: Kathleen Johnston will cover the elementary level and Michele Goldmand will take charge of the middle and high schools.
Counselor Gayle Moriarity will take over Goldman’s roles at the High School Counseling Center.
Tebbano said the district’s confident the changes won’t negatively affect programming.
`It can still be done. It will be a little bit more work,` he said. `In the end, we are basically cutting back on personnel and saving money.`
It was also recently determined that Middle School House Leader David Zadoorian would move to a position of administrative dean at the high school, formerly held by Penny Hardenstine. One of the two house leader positions was selected for elimination in the 2010-11 budget.
Though Tebbano was adamant BC will always be looking for ways to save money, he was less sure more teachers or staff could be let go without impacting the programming.
`Our numbers are pretty tight right now. We’ve cut our faculty back and class sizes are going to be
larger,` he said. `We take this on a case-by-case basis.“