School system makes first job cuts

The Craven County Board of Education voted Thursday to cut 48 contracted teachers and employees for the upcoming school year.

Members voted unanimously not to re-issue the one-year contracts for retired state employees after a closed-session discussion.
The changes will affect classroom teachers, bookkeepers, assistant principals, mentors, learning system coaches, cafeteria managers and cafeteria assistants, said Gerald K. Johnson, the assistant superintendent of human resource services.

Johnson said there was talk in the General Assembly to change statutes that allow retired personnel to re-contract for a year, although nothing had been passed.

"If this law expires in October, then that would mean these contracted retirees would either have to resign from the district, or they would have to come out of retirement," Johnson said. "Craven County Schools do not want to be in a position of trying to find a highly qualified teacher in October or November, once the school year has begun."
He added that the employees may be offered a job if they come out of retirement and the legislation passes, but they may be part of any future job cuts.

The system is facing a possible $7.86 million cut in state funding in fiscal year 2010, according to a House education subcommittee's proposal that was released recently.

Craven school officials had said as many as 100 jobs, including teaching positions, may have to be cut to balance the county budget.

"I want to make sure that our contract retirees know, that when the dust settles, when we know what the final state budget is going to look like, if there are openings, they can apply," Superintendent Larry Moser said. 

Johnson commended the caliber of contracted retirees working in the district.

"However, we had to do what we had to do to make sure that we stay within the budget that will be passed for Craven County Schools," he said.

Also at the meeting, the board discussed a proposal to change the high schools' schedules to include time for student remediation during the school day. In the new proposal, students who need extra help with their schoolwork would have 45 to 50 minutes for re-teaching, while other students would use the time for enrichment.   

"Best practices say that re-teaching and enrichment should occur during the school day, not after school," said Annette Brown, the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.
Board member Kim Smith said some Havelock High School students said the shift may interfere with clubs and athletics.

"But the principal is going to work on that," she said. "The kids that I talk to, seem to love (the idea of the proposal)."