Twelve non-teaching positions at Madison Consolidated Schools were eliminated by the school board Wednesday, and the board authorized Superintendent Tom Patterson to send written notices to teachers who also could have their jobs cut in a reduction in force. He said this morning he expects to send 13 or 14 letters. An additional 11 jobs were discontinued, but could be reinstated if grants are received.
The 12 non-certified jobs being cut, all them teacher aide jobs except a temporary custodian, and the potential elimination of about a dozen teacher jobs are budget-related because the state will be sending MCS $1.5 million less than had been expected.
Patterson said that by Friday he will notify teachers who are subject to reduction-in-force. He will ask the board at its next meeting to approve the specific reduction-in-force cuts. Teachers who receive a reduction-in-force notice are the first to be hired for openings, so a teacher who receives a notice won't necessarily be unemployed when school starts.
Ten of the 11 employees whose jobs depend on grants are non-certified and work in the CAPE program at elementary schools. Funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc., the Community Alliance to Promote Education program is in the last year of a five-year grant. The 11th position is a Title 1 job funded by a federal grant. The non-certified aides in the CAPE program tutored students who couldn't pass the ISTEP and were struggling in other areas academically. Patterson said today that these jobs are put on the chopping block every year, then reinstated in the fall when grant money comes in. He said it is possible funds will be found to continue CAPE.
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