Seven teaching positions gone

With an operating deficit of $722,100 Tuesday the Harrisburg Community Unit School District No. 3 approved reductions in staff saving $598,750.

That amount when combined with $150,000 savings from retirees and accounting for potential tax revenue loss of $82,000 brought the total operating deficit down to a$55,350 for the 2013-2014 school year.

The staff reductions were across the board: Janitors, teachers aids and secretaries were cut. But seven eliminated positions were teachers: Larry Luna, Chisti McGhee, Mike Dudley, Ashley Ford, Carly Angelly, Melony Tate and Lindsay Dunn.

During the meeting Board President Tom DeNeal said, "We are not overspending. We are underfunded. I thank the Harrisburg Education Association (the local teachers union) for making the discussion a friendly discussion. We just can't kick the can down the road."

The teachers and others will be paid until June 30, the end of the school year. The 2014-2015 school year begins July 1.

Greg Langley, president of the HEA said after the meeting that he would be in touch with the Illinois Education Association and would inform them of the decision of the board.

"You want to remain optimistic," said Langley, "but realistically speaking, nothing is going to change."

Board member Jeffrey Drake offered an alternative plan that would draw funds from the operating budget and postpone the job cuts another year.

"Cutting teacher positions has the greatest impact on the students. My proposal is admittedly very flawed, but I wanted to give the board some options other than cutting teachers."

In other board action:

n Lewis Kerr's retirement at the end of the 2014-2015 school year was accepted.

n Heather Cox's resignation as high school girl's volley ball coach was accepted.

n Heather Cox was hired as head volley ball coach at the high school.

n James Herrin was hired as girls high school track coach.

Correction

<p>Due to a reporter's error, the status of two Harrisburg teachers was wrong in Wednesday's Page 1A story "Seven teaching positions gone." Marc Henshaw retains a teaching position; he was involuntarily transferred to a different position. Lindsay Dunn was omitted from the list of teachers who were cut. The error has been corrected in the Online story.</p>