WBESC board discusses state budget

Van Wert independent/WBESC information

Ohio Governor John Kasich’s new biennium budget was the major topic of discussion for the Western Buckeye Educational Service Center Governing Board during its April meeting on Wednesday.

Superintendent Brian Gerber reviewed the proposed state budget with board members, with Gerber pointing out that the governor’s decision not to replace federal stimulus dollars, which supported the school funding formula, along with state dollars, in the last state budget, results in a loss of $1.4 billion for Ohio school districts over the next two years, compared to Fiscal Year 2011 levels.

Those cuts, as well as a 50-percent reduction in replacement dollars for the loss of local tangible personal property taxes, put cuts to education at more than $3.1 billion over the biennium.

Gerber noted that the large cut cannot be absorbed without major cuts to programs and staff over the next two years, adding that, while school districts had been preparing for a reduction in state aid, the realities of the proposed cuts “are alarming.”

The WBESC superintendent told board members that, with state funding cuts that have impacted the local educational service center, it would be necessary to maintain salaries at the current levels for the 2011-2012 school year.

Gerber said the WBESC administrative team, along with the board, will have to work together to plan ahead for the future. “Forward planning and teamwork will be the key,” Gerber told board members. “As an organization, we will keep two things in mind as we approach the new biennium: 1. What is the best interest of our students we service? and, 2., What ways and means can we be fiscally responsible to our agency and the school districts we serve?”

Gerber also updated the board on recent WBESC activities and several personnel issues.

In other news, the board:

• Accepted the resignation of Stephanie Cox as a preschool teacher.
• Approved Dr. Kuhn as the physician who will provide van and bus driver physicals at a rate of $75 per driver.
• Voted to join the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities for 2011.
• Approved calendars for the 2011-2012 school year for Thomas Edison Preschool and Western Buckeye Resource Center.
• Approved the following certified contracts for next school year: Cathy Bonifas, continuing; Linda Krauskopf, one-year limited (part-time); Brenda Recker, five-year limited (part-time); Tina Kennedy, two-year limited; and Ronda Niemeyer, continuing.
• Approved the following non-certified contracts for the 2011-12 school year: Linda Clark, continuing; Michelle Davis, continuing; Cora J. Flynn, continuing; Rebecca Mayer, continuing; Shelly Walters, continuing; Janine Warnecke, continuing; Angela Zartman, continuing (part-time); Robert Miller, one-year limited; Jama Cline, continuing (part-time); Sandra Etzler, continuing (part-time); Heather Matthews, continuing; Cathy Ruiz, continuing (part-time, depending on grants); Brenda Ward, continuing (part-time); Carol Williman, continuing; Gary Frysinger, one-year limited.
• Extended a 25-day supplemental contract to Karla Treece at her current daily rate to cover special education service coordination, effective March 23.

The next regular meeting of the WBESC Governing Board will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 11.