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“Think of our children as more than just a dollar figure”

Posted March 19, 2015 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler The Herald Tribune

CHESTER -- With a crowd of roughly 35 parents, students, community and education leaders in attendance, the Chester District 139 Board of Education unanimously voted Thursday to honorably dismiss Vocal Music Director Zeb Holder and art teacher Keyona Fisher under a Reduction in Force effective at the end of the current school year.

During an interview with local media after the meeting, District Superintendent Chris Diddlebock said the last day for teachers is May 29.

"I'm tired of explaining away classrooms with 30 kids or teachers forced to do more and more," said Denise Andrews, who has two children who attend Chester Grade School, to the board members. "At some point, you have to look at the children, you can't look at just money.

"Think of our children as more than just a dollar figure."

A total of 15 people spoke during public comment. Several spoke of their positive personal experiences through the district's music and/or art programs as well as the influence of the teachings of Holder and Fisher.

"Chester has always been a town of meager means, but outstanding results," said Tom Welge. "I think we'll fail our kids if we don't have the basics of music and art."

At times, others broke down as the emotion of the situation overcame them.

"Some of my best memories are with Mr. Holder," said Chester High School student Cassie Everding. "He helped bring me out of my shell.

"Marching band and swing choir are the most important part of my day. Swing choir is my home away from home."

Former Chester Board of Education President Vicky Beers brought up Randolph County's voter-approved 1 percent sales tax, which Diddlebock said is estimated to generate $830,000 per year for the school district.

But Diddlebock has said in previous statements to the media that the sales tax money can only be used toward building maintenance and new construction.

"After this (school) year, we are down $532,000 over the past three years in General State Aid," Diddlebock said in his response to Beers. "We're looking at insurmountable budget deficits.

"I'm afraid in a lot of ways that if we don't do (cuts) now, we'll lose a lot more in the future," he said.

Diddlebock said the district is under a state mandate to RIF certified staff by a certain time, which is difficult as the district has not been told what it is receiving in state aid this year or in 2015-16.

Some of those who spoke suggested cutting sports to make ends meet.

"The board did what it did (Thursday) No. 1 (because) it didn't have a lot of other answers," Diddlebock said during the media interview. "There's a statutory timeframe for certified teachers that is next week that this has to be done or you lose all control of doing it.

"For non-certified teachers, I believe it's 30 days before the end of school, where that has to be done and sports and anything can be done anytime in there. But there are some things that have to be legally done in certain timeframes."

The board spent about an hour in executive session to discuss personnel before returning to open session to announce its decision.

Approached by the media during executive session, Holder respectfully declined to comment, but he did share his thoughts via a comment made to the Herald Tribune's Facebook page later Thursday night.

"Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who came out (Thursday)," Holder wrote. "It has been my pleasure to work with the students and community of Chester."

"This is nothing any of us wants to do," Diddlebock said after the meeting. "These are the hardest things I ever do; having to go tell teachers or other staff that not because of anything they've done wrong, we can't afford to keep a program.

"It's rough listening to people with where we are and we hope the state will turn something around."

In a balance sheet given to the media after the meeting, General State Aid proration to the district has gone from $3,919,758 in June 2011 to $3,394,687 in June 2014 - a decrease of $525,071.

"The state has no idea what they're giving us this year, let alone next year," Diddlebock said. "The whole thing's a mess."

Roundup

The BOE approved Bill Edwards and Paul Dean as CHS bass fishing volunteers for 2014-15.

The BOE approved Boyd Miles as a CHS baseball volunteer for 2014-15, pending ASEP certification and fingerprinting.

The BOE approved the amended 2014-15 school calendar.

The BOE approved a maternity leave request for Kristin Petrowske from the beginning of the 2015-16 school year through September 22.

The BOE approved tenure for Kristin Petrowske, Jenny Krantz, Brad Norman, Steve Spears and Linda Sward.

The BOE approved the employment of Jamie Ennis as Chester Grade School 3 ½ hour Special Education aide beginning March 20 at $9 per hour.

The BOE approved the intent to hire Shirley Stegmann as the district curriculum director beginning with the 2015-16 school year.

The BOE approved Krystin Baker as CGS head track coach for 2014-15 and Jake Cowan as an assistant coach.

The BOE approved Aaron Halstead as CHS freshman boys' basketball coach for 2014-15.

The BOE approved the resignations of cheerleading coaches Rachel Marshall (head coach) and Ashley Page (assistant coach) effective immidately.

The BOE approved the resignations of CHS Dance Team coaches Morgan Berndorf and Danielle Valleroy, effective immediately.

The BOE approved an intent to retire from Joann Meyer at the conclusion of the 2018-19 school year, taking advantage of the 6 percent salary increase for the final four years of employment.

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