Newly appointed Trustee Elizabeth Egan’s first action on Clarkston Board of Education was to break a 3-3 tie, promoting two administrators and sending lay-off notices to 50 teachers.
Brief discussion focused on the process leading to promoting Clarkston Junior High School Principal Shawn Ryan to deputy superintendent, and Communications Director Anita Banach to human resources director.
No discussion addressed the teacher layoffs, which didn’t sit well with Brooke Davis, president of Clarkston Education Association.
‘I didn’t hear any comment from anybody up here about what a travesty it is,? he said. ‘You are our leaders we need you to say something on the record that says we hope not to do this.?
He asked Superintendent Dr. Albert Roberts and the board to look at early retirement incentives proposed by the state, which would allow younger teachers to stay.
‘We understand cuts are going have to be made and teachers are going to be asked to come up to the plate to discuss it,? said Davis.
The 4-3 vote cuts 41 full-time employee positions throughout the district, requiring lay-off notices for 50 full- and part-time employees.
Beginning July 1, Banach will take over for Linda Nester as HR director, and Ryan in David Reschke’s position as deputy superintendent.
Banach’s salary and benefits are $30,000 less than Nester’s, and Ryan’s, $6,000-$8,000 less than Reschke.
Treasurer Rosalie Lieblang’s motion to separate promotions from the personnel-change list, then table it, failed, 4-3. Vice President Susan Boatman and Trustee Joan Patterson voted with Lieblang.
Board President Steve Hyer, Vice President Cheryl McGinnis, Trustee Barry Bomier, and Egan voted against.
Requests by The Clarkston News for information regarding the candidate search for deputy superintendent and HR director, first made April 2, have not been answered and were refiled April 16 under the Freedom of Information Act.