COAL TOWNSHIP - As many as 18 Shamokin Area teachers could be furloughed at the end of the school year while the district continues to address a $4.6 million budget deficit for 2012-13.
Word that district Superintendent James Zack called a meeting earlier this week with those who might be laid off spread Thursday, although Zack and several board members said nothing is definite at this point.
School board member Charles Shuey said he was informed about the meeting. Also, board members have been provided with a list of teachers who may be furloughed, but Shuey said he would not release the names.
He broke down the positions being discussed as follows: nine elementary school teachers, two art teachers, two physical education teachers, four music teachers and a library teacher.
Shuey said after learning of the meeting, he e-mailed Zack to question him about the situation. Zack replied that he arranged the meeting to inform the teachers about the possibility of furloughs, according to Shuey.
"My information said that they were told outright they would be furloughed," Shuey said.
Contacted Thursday by cell phone, Zack said he had no comment about the furlough situation.
"We have a difficult budget this year," that continues to be addressed, is all he would say.
The board has also voted to increase incentives to entice long-tenured teachers to take early retirement prior to next school year.
Last year, Zack said as many as 94 teachers and staff members could be laid off in 2012-2013 when the board passed its 2011-2012 budget. In budget discussions this year, an estimated 25 positions could be eliminated, some of them through attrition.
Board hasn't voted
Shuey said the situation is likely to be discussed at a meeting of the board set for Thursday.
"Nothing is set in stone because the board hasn't voted on it yet," Shuey said.
Board member Edward Griffiths also said Thursday the furlough issue would be a topic of discussion Thursday night, and that nothing has been finalized.
Shuey said he would stick to his guns and not support furloughs until other cuts are made.
"When I ran for office, I said that if we had to make cuts, they should come from the top down. I proposed some administration cuts, (and) I will not support any layoffs until they are made first," he said.
At a February meeting, Shuey proposed eliminating the curriculum coordinator, athletic director and a school nurse position, and reconfiguring the positions of special education coordinator, maintenance coordinator and technology coordinator, moves that he said would save the district more than $318,000.
Union weighs in
Shamokin Area Education Association President Sam Scicchitano said he heard about meetings coming next week, once staff returns from Easter break.
"I had heard that some teachers have been called to have an informational meeting with the superintendent next week," he said Thursday. "I tried to meet with him today, but he wasn't in, so I will try again on Tuesday."
Scicchitano said there has been a lot of cooperation between the district and teachers union on the budget, but that furloughs have not been discussed between the two sides.
Shamokin Area has already cut approximately $1 million, mostly in materials and equipment and had proposed $2.6 million in staff reductions when its $30.3 million preliminary budget was passed on Jan. 25.
Thursday's special meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. with a board executive session, followed by the work session at 7 p.m. and then a public meeting in the middle/high school cafeteria.