USD 234 announces staff changes

Several personnel resignations and transfers were accepted during a special meeting of the USD 234 school board Friday. The non-renewals were funded by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This is the last year that funding will be provided, Business Manager Tiffany Forester said.

Other school administrators and teachers were either ready to retire, or may have gotten jobs at other school districts, she said. "It worked out that we were able to transfer from within," Forester said.

Accepted by the board were:

The resignation of Eugene Ware Elementary School special education teacher Julie Davish; resignation of Bill Holland, Eugene Ware fifth-grade teacher; transfer of Lois Herman, Winfield Scott Literacy through Technology teacher to Winfield Scott/Eugene Ware Literacy through Technology teacher.

Also, the transfer of Marianna Daughtery, Eugene Ware third-grade teacher, to middle school language arts teacher; transfer of Joyce Davenport, middle school family and consumer science teacher, to high school family and consumer science teacher; transfer of Nick Johnson, Winfield Scott ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as federal stimulus funds) second-grade teacher, to high school family and consumer science teacher.

Additionally, the transfer of Jeff DeLaTorre, high school physical education teacher, to high school assistant principal; non-renewal of Sarah Ettore, ARRA intervention specialist, and non-renewal of Chasidee Hutchison, ARRA intervention specialist.

The Kansas legislature has approved a $13.8 billion budget, which was been sent to Gov. Sam Brownback early Friday.

The bill finances state government starting July 1, making cuts in public schools, social services and general government administration.

Kansas will spend $881 million less than it will in the current year, erasing a one-time shortfall of nearly $500 million and creating a $50 million surplus in 2012, according to the Associated Press.

Base student aid for this year was cut by $75 and will be reduced another $157 next year, Forester said.

The district's general fund budget for this year, excluding special education, is $10, 631,475. Next year, it will be $10,207,512 with the cut to base student aid, Forester said.

In other business, the board approved the purchase of a Suburban and car for district use.