The Tyler County Board of Education focused on the issue of personnel reduction recommendations on Jan. 18.

Figures from the Office of School Finance at the West Virginia Department of Education show that Tyler County Schools are currently funding 9.71 professional and 15.968 service personnel positions in excess of the school aide formula.

While the reduction of staff was not pleasing to the board, it was agreed that responsible action must be taken to provide the best educational program possible despite budget reductions. These reductions minimize the use of locally-generated funds used to support those programs.

Director of Student Services, Personnel and Preschool Duane Dober spoke to the board addressing the matter and made the following recommendations.

One LD/BD/MI position at Tyler Consolidated Middle School will be eliminated. This position can be eliminated as a result of the reduced and shifting special education caseloads at the school. The teacher currently in the position is retiring in January, and will not be replaced for 2011-2012.

One supplemental Math position at Tyler Consolidated Middle School, which is not required by state board policy, will be eliminated. This position is funded through federal Rural and Low Income Schools money, which has been unreliable for Tyler County due to the fact that some years the county does not qualify. On the basis of lack of need and lack of funding, this position will be eliminated for the 2011-2012 school year, and the educator who holds the position will be placed on the preferred recall list.

One kindergarten teaching position at Arthur I. Boreman will be eliminated. The anticipated enrollment of kindergarten students does not support the need for three kindergarten teachers. Dober recommeded to the board that the position be eliminated due to lack of need.

One preschool/special needs position at Tyler County Preschool Center will also be eliminated. In a preliminary estimate of enrollment of preschool students county wide, it was judged that the numbers do not support the need for five preschool teachers. However, if enrollment rises, the board voted to recommend the position be restored through rescission.

One third grade teaching position at Arthur I. Boreman and one third grade teaching position at Sistersville Elementary will also be eliminated, since enrollment does not support the current staff of three teachers per school for the 2011-2012 school year.

One Music and Computer teacher at Tyler Consolidated Middle School will not be replaced at the end of this school year. Existing staff members plan to absorb the responsibilities of this position.

One Credit Recovery teacher at Tyler Consolidated High School will not be replaced for the 2011-2012 school year, due to the fact that the federal funding source cannot be guaranteed for the position.

Positions placed on the transfer list include the recommendation that Brandy Glover-Frye not serve gifted education students as part of her schedule, which is yet to be determined. It was also recommended that Mrs. Judi Hamrick be placed on the transfer list and be transferred to a position as an Itinerant Gifted Education Teacher part-time at Arthur I. Boreman Elementary, Sistersville Elementary and Tyler Consolidated Middle schools effective July, 2011.

Also placed on the transfer list were two preschool special needs teachers subsequent to assignment pending finalization of enrollment figures and staffing adjustments needed throughout the county.

One Instructional Preschool Aide, Tyler County Preschool Center, will be placed on the transfer list because preschool enrollment cannot be determined and finalized. Assignment is pending finalization of enrollment figures and staffing adjustments needed throughout the county.

One Instructional Aide at Tyler Consolidated High School will be eliminated due to lack of need. The instructor will be placed on the preferred recall list for 2011-2012.

One bus operator position is being eliminated because of the shifting population of the county. One bus route will be eliminated and students on the route will be coordinated into four other existing routes. The driver in the eliminated position will be put on preferred recall status for 2011-2012.

Other transfers of service personnel by mutual consent already approved by the Board of Education are as follows: Mike Hickman, bus operator, Preston Ferrell, bus operator, Paulette Christen, transportation aide, Cindy Fulks, transportation aide, and Andrea Wagner, transportation aide.

Transfers of professional personnel by mutual consent already approved by the Board are: Rebecca Thomas, from fifth grade teacher at A.I.B. to second grade teacher at A.I.B.

The total cost reductions amount to $451, 802. 82.

Ken Hunt made the motion that the reduction recommendations be accepted by the board and was seconded by Jimmy Wyatt. The motion carried.

Superintendent Robin Daquilante thanked Dober for “a job well done,” noting that enrollment has continued to drop. “When enrollment allows us to reduce – reduce,” she added.

The board discussed attending the WVSBA Conference in Charleston. All board members, as well as Superintendent Robin Daquilante, plan to attend.

Superintendent Daquilante also mentioned there was a hot lunch review at Sistersville Elementary School the previous week. She reported that the review went very well, with several commendations made. “The only two things that were commented on were that we (Tyler County schools) were undercharging for the adult breakfasts and lunch,” remarked Daquilante, “and that when children bring in lunch money, it must be counted by the teachers before it is turned into the office.”

“Do we have to raise prices?” asked board member Linda Hoover. “No,” replied Daquilante. “It’s our decision.”

“Are we making ends meet?” asked Hoover. “If we’re making ends meet, then we shouldn’t have to (raise prices).” The board agreed not to raise the prices on the adults.

In the financial report, Financial Manager/Treasurer Jeff Davis spoke about three budget revision requests, which totaled over $39,000.

Davis also gave the annual operations report for the period of July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010 from American Benefit Corporation. Davis reported that $114, 262 was spend on dental claims, and $23,866 was spent on optical claims, at a cost of approximately $60.84 per month per person. Two hundred and five people were covered in 2010. “The amounts have remained stable over the last four years,” commented Davis, “with an increase in dental claims and a decrease in optical claims.”

Board member Jimmy Wyatt made a motion to accept the budget revisions, seconded by Larry Thomas. The motion carried.

Five trip requests were approved by the board:

A trip to Washington, D.C., where four students and advisor Connie Stewart will attend the National Youth Leadership Anti-Drug program Feb. 6 – 11;

A trip to Wheeling, where the NJHA club will attend a Nailers hockey game January 31;

A trip to the Paden City Cheer Competition for cheerleaders to compete on Feb. 12. (parents, Suzette Miller or Cheer Coach Laci Strode will provide transportation) and;

A trip by the Tyler Consolidated Middle/High School choirs to West Liberty University to attend the West Virginia Solo and Ensemble Festival on Feb. 12.

The rest of the meeting was conducted in executive session.

Those attending Tuesday night’s meeting were Superintendent Robin Daquilante and board members Jimmy Wyatt, Ken Hunt, Larry Thomas, Dr. Ralph Boone, and Linda Hoover. Also attending were Duane Dober and Jeff Davis.