Marietta City Schools trim staff to save $700,000

By Sam Shawver, sshawver@mariettatimes.com
Hoping to stave off a looming financial crisis, the Marietta City Schools Board of Education on Monday unanimously approved the elimination of 11 positions, including several teaching jobs, for the 2008-2009 school year.

“These are real people with real lives. This is not pleasant for us, yet our financial situation underscores that we have to do it,” board president Jack Moberg said prior to the vote.

The reductions are expected to save the district $700,000 next year, according to district treasurer David Combs.

Four of the positions are being eliminated through attrition, including a school nurse, guidance counselor and math teacher at Marietta High School and one aide position at Marietta Middle School.

Those employees are either resigning or retiring and their positions will not be filled next year.

Seven other jobs, including a dean of students, aide, two business education teachers, a family and consumer science teacher, and a physical education instructor at MHS, will be lost through a direct reduction in force.

“We really don’t want to cut anything, but this school system is in serious trouble,” said board member Allen Love. “More than 80 percent of our budget is in salaries and benefits, and the cuts have to be made somewhere.”

None of the affected employees apparently attended Monday’s meeting, and no one addressed the planned reductions in force during the public comments phase of the session.

But several people expressed concern that the girls golf team could be eliminated as the board considers further cuts.

“We may lose our team, and I don’t want that to happen,” said Lori Amrine, a district teacher and coach of the girls golf team.

“We have eight girls now and the team has improved immensely, and our program is growing,” she said. “We want it to continue to grow.”

Amrine said the team requires little funding, approximately $3,500 a year, and added that she would be willing to forgo her coaching salary to keep the team active. She said the girls pay for their own equipment and clothing, and the boosters organization takes care of overnight lodging and meals.

Tim Amrine said the girls could join the boys team, but they would most likely not get the chance to play because the district has an excellent boys team.

“We started two years ago with four freshmen and two sophomores,” he said. “The team has struggled, but the girls have really enjoyed it and have improved. I hope you will consider keeping this team.”



North Hills building

Betty Fleming of Hickory Lane also asked the board about plans to sell the former North Hills Elementary School building.

“Have you considered a direct sale instead of an auction for that property?” she asked.

“We can only do a direct sale to another government entity,” Combs explained.

The property, including the building on more than seven acres, has been appraised at $275,000 if sold as-is, according to district business manager Bob Strobl.

Fleming said she was concerned that the property would be purchased and developed with small rental homes that could affect the neighborhood property values.

Moberg said the North Hills school sale would be discussed at a separate future public meeting. He said that meeting date has not yet been determined.

The next regular school board session is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on June 30.