Gateway School Board may cut 10 teaching positions Tuesday night
The Gateway School Board plans to furlough teachers in 10 positions at Tuesday night's meeting, but many could remain district employees.
Citing a 24-percent enrollment drop over the past decade, school officials are proposing to cut three elementary teachers, three physical education teachers, two reading teachers and one each in science and technology.
The meeting agenda states the following teachers are being furloughed: Nicole Dunsmore, Robert Finkel and Alexis Hartman, physical education; Elisa McMahon, Carly Preffer and Brittany Vasko, elementary; Dana Bossola-Boychuk and Kelly Sweeney, reading; Kristy Momchilovich, science and Jaison Palermo, technology
Each employee has the opportunity move into other open positions June 27, and to be recalled in August, district human resources director Patricia Crump said.
The bidding process is based on seniority and teaching certifications, as outlined by the teachers union contract between the district and the Gateway Education Association. Union President Mark Spinola couldn't be reached for comment Monday.
District officials expect that two of the 10 teachers no longer will have permanent positions, and instead will be offered temporary, one-year substitute positions.
The district will have about 265 teachers next year.
The agenda calls for eliminating 4 1⁄2 teaching positions in the middle school — two in reading, 1.5 in physical education and one in science.
The move reflects years of declining enrollment.
Board member Chad Stubenbort emphasized that no one is being fired. He said the school district is in a good spot financially.
“We are one of the very few (school districts) in the area that has a balanced budget without raising taxes and using money from the general fund,” Stubenbort said.
The board is to vote on a $75.7 million budget Tuesday night that keeps property taxes at 19.3264 mills.
According to the resolution to furlough 10 teachers, Gateway's enrollment has dropped by 1,005 students, or 24 percent, over the past decade. The district has 3,279 students.
The school board meeting is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday at 9000 Gateway Campus Boulevard, Monroeville.
Dillon Carr is a Tribune-Review reporter. Reach him at 412-871-2325, dcarr@tribweb.com or via Twitter @dillonswriting.
