POMEROY — The Meigs Local School District’s financial problems have led to a further reduction in force (RIF) by the elimination of two teaching positions at Meigs High School and the reassignment of some personnel in administrative positions.

The board of education took action at last week’s meeting to eliminate French from the high school curriculum along with one of the two business office education classes (medical records and entrepreneurship). The teachers have the option of transfers as per the negotiated agreement with the Meigs Local Teachers Association.

In addition to the teacher position eliminations, the board made several administrative changes, all directed at reducing district expenses while allowing for further reductions in staff should the state budget for school operations remain the same or be cut. That state legislative decision will come on July 1.

The changes in administrative positions are as follows:

Rusty Bookman from intermediate school principal to federal funds/grants coordinator; Darin Logan from intermediate school assistant principal to intermediate school principal; Mary Hawk from middle school principal to elementary school associate principal; and Vickie Jones from primary school assistant principal to middle school principal.

Superintendent William Buckley said that the overall savings to the district’s general fund through the reassignments is around $60,000.

In talking about the state budget and its possible effect on local school districts, Buckley described it as “looking worse than it’s been for a long time.”

Meanwhile, the district is expected to receive about $1 million in federal stimulus money, all of which is targeted for special education and handicapped programs, along with Title I programs that include tutoring students.

Buckley said that the stimulus money can be used to make buildings more handicapped accessible, such as improving the elevator at the high school, buying a new handicapped accessible bus to replace the 2000 model now in use, or upgrading technology to better accommodate special education and handicapped students.

As for the Title 1 money, Buckley said that means more teachers can be hired to tutor kids so they can pass the state test. Currently there are 12 teachers employed through Title 1, all at the elementary school.

None of the stimulus money can go into the general fund to balance that, he added.

As for the state budget, the superintendent commented, “We’ll be lucky to stay right where we are and that means we’ll be in a real crunch, which translates into more cuts on our end.

“The student census keeps dropping and on the current formula money is determined by count,” Buckley added.

Other personnel matters handled at the meeting including accepting the resignations of Susan Climer as assistant high school principal, Amy Doinofrio as high school English teacher, and Judy McCarthy as National Honor Society advisor.

Teachers hired for the summer school/OGT Intervention Assistance were Travis Abbott and Amy Donofrio, summer school, and Kathy Hudson, OGT science; Donna Wolf, OGT math, and Teresa Williams OGT social studies. Also hired were J. Timothy Simpson, OWA teacher, and Jeffery Alan Bissell, auto mechanics teacher, both at Meigs High School.

Awarded supplemental contracts for next year were Judy McCarthy, senior class advisor; Gloria Van Reeth, junior class advisor; Denise Arnold, high school yearbook advisor; Steven Wood, head girls softball coach; Jeremy Grimm, head boys baseball coach, and Jordan Hill, high school golf coach.

Hired for the Middle School were Chris Shank, boys basketball coach, and Mike Kloes and Bryan Zirkle, both football coaches.

Additional days were granted to librarians Denise Arnold, Betty Ann Wolfe, Bethany Lawson and Marge Barr, to close out the libraries.

In other action, the board approved the On-Site Dual Enrollment Program proposal with Washington State Community College to allow students to earn college credit before graduating from high school. This applies primarily to vocational students.

Also approved was a year’s contract renewal with the Jefferson County Educational Service Center for participation in the Virtual Learning Academy which provides on-line classes for students. Also approved was a three-year contract for services from Federal E-Rate Program and Strategic Management Solutions for technology services.