By Megan Decker
Staff Writer
VASSAR — The Vassar School Board voted on Monday to reduce its teaching staff by seven personnel.
According to the teacher layoff resolution, the Board of Education of the Vassar Public Schools has reviewed its projected revenues and expenditures for the 2014-15 school year, program enrollments and curricular needs, and on the basis of the above factors has determined that a reduction in teaching personnel is necessary.
The following teachers were placed on layoff status effective June 30: Kelly Burke-Smith, Jeff Staples, Judith Chelekis, Vince Leveille, Richard Samson, Christina Fenlon and Elaine Germain.
The selected personnel were laid off either due to their most recent evaluation performance, or by seniority within the district, explained Superintendent Thomas Palmer.
The teacher layoff resolution was passed by a vote of 4-1. Trustee Randy Middlin voted “no,” while trustees Jill Baase and Ben Guile were absent from the meeting. Mike Kennard, Russell Hubbard, Kirk Vanwormer and Jeff Fackler each voted “yes.”
Among other business, school board members voted to approve the retirement of Vassar High School Principal Paul Wojno which will include the $15,000 voluntary severance package agreement that members approved last month. The board then agreed to hire Wojno to continue working as full-time high school principal next year. Wojno will work for two-thirds of his contractual salary under the new agreement. The one-year agreement will save the district approximately $70,000. The board voted 4-1 with Middlin casting the sole “no” vote.
Board members also agreed to extend a one-year contract to Andrea Legue to serve as the district’s athletic director and also to Randy Tausch to serve as custodial supervisor.
Board members also approved the purchasing of reading material for the district’s third and fourth grade classrooms. The additional materials will cost approximately $12,000.
The next regular meeting of the Vassar School Board will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 11 at the Vassar High School media center.