Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER -ÊAnticipating more budget cuts, Manchester Community School board voted not to renew Manchester Elementary School's assistant principal Randy Myer's contract.
"In anticipation of possible staff reductions in the spring, we must follow legal guidelines," Superintendent Diana Showalter told the board.
According to state law, school administrators must be informed of contract non-renewals for the following year by Feb. 1. Teachers must be informed by May 1.
Showalter called the non-renewal a "precaution" and said the school corporations has "no idea what our budget for next year will allow."
"We have to plan ahead and say that there's a possibility that we'll be cutting an administrative position next year," Showalter said.
An assistant principal position seemed like the most likely cut.
Myers will retain his tenure with the school, under state law, and may return to teaching if he wishes.
A corporation-wide cost reduction process began recently, Showalter said, and all buildings have had or soon will have "open-agenda" meetings to brainstorm cost-cutting measures.
One more budgetary worry the corporation has is the possibility of all-day kindergartens, which were called "another unfunded mandate."
"We have the space," Showalter said. "But I don't know where we'll have the money for teachers and supplies."
In other business, the board recommended Gregg Brown and Brian Budnik as volunteer assistant softball coaches and Karen Poling as special education assistant at Manchester High School.
The board accepted resignations from Aaron Jones, girls varsity soccer coach; Megan Mattern, assistant track coach at Manchester High School, and Sarah Montel, instructional assistant at Manchester Elementary.
Manchester school board members are Sally Krouse, president, Todd Speicher, Thom Frantz, Kent Terrill, Larry Miller, Carlye McLaughlin and Brad Perrot. Superintendent is Diane Showalter.
