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WOODSFIELD -- In a 4-1 vote, the Switzerland Board of Education approved the suspension of five administrative employees’ contracts Thursday in a bid to save the district more than $750,000 a year.
The board held a special meeting Thursday evening to discuss Superintendent Phil Ackerman’s recommendation to suspend the contracts of Cyndi Brill, associate superintendent; Suzanne Holland, director of food and nutrition; Linda O’Conner, director of business operations; James Ruble, director of adult education; and Chad Stephens, system analyst.
Ackerman said his recommendation to suspend the employee contracts will save the school district more than $750,000 annually. Although the school district has been in a “favorable position” financially due to operations of the oil and gas industry in the county, he said in the next few years that could change.
“Solar power, wind power and other non-fossil resources will generate more and more of our electricity. The school district must confront the fact that the amount of the school district’s revenue generated by wells currently operating in Monroe County will be reduced. There are any number of public school districts in Ohio who have power plants that at one time generated excessive revenues for the school districts but are now facing financial issues because the power plant factories are closed,” he said.
Ackerman said the district must start planning now for the loss of revenue to ensure the schools will have sufficient financial resources to provide students a quality education for years to come. He said the district has more administrative employees than it needs. The ratio of administrators to students — 1 to 50 — is one of the highest in the state, he said. He recommended the board combine and consolidate the administrative positions that share similar duties.
“I’ve identified five administrative positions which can be reduced without adverse consequences to the school district’s educational program and which will result in savings to the school district,” he said.
Ackerman then went through each of the five employees and who could take over their responsibilities.
∫ Brill’s responsibilities will be performed by the superintendent and treasurer’s office. Eliminating the position will save the district more than $200,000 per year.
∫ O’Connor’s responsibilities will be performed by the technology coordinator, transportation supervisor, facility supervisor, treasurer’s office, administrative assistant and the superintendent. Cutting the position will save the district $157,000 per year.
∫ Stephen’s duties can be performed by the technology coordinator, IT specialist, IT technician, and EMI coordinator. Reducing the position will save the district $112,000 per year.
∫ Holland’s responsibilities will be performed by the nutrition food service coordinator. Eliminating the position will save the district $129,000 per year.
∫ Ruble’s responsibilities will be performed by the director, career readiness coordinator and the superintendent. Cutting the position will save the district $157,000 per year.
Board members Ron Winkler, Greg Schumacher, Bev Anderson and Jerry Gust voted in favor of the recommendation while Sarah Smith voted against it. The motion passed 4-1.
Following the meeting, Smith said she was disappointed with the decision and does not believe the administrative positions can be easily absorbed.
“The knowledge and qualifications of those people can’t be replaced. … Those are director positions that have people underneath them. It’s a very sad day for Switzerland of Ohio school district,” she said.
The suspension of the five contracts will become effective Sept. 18.