SYRACUSE — The Wawasee School Board approved more than 20 staff reductions Tuesday, but postponed other budget cuts until they know for certain who will retire.
A dozen staff members, most in elementary and middle school, have their hours reduced or eliminated in the plan approved during the regular board meeting. Another 10 positions were eliminated, combined or reassigned. All reductions were made on the basis of seniority.
But some may be asked back, depending on the number of retirements seen Friday, Schools Superintendant Thomas Edington said.
Edington said he anticipates 10 staff retirements and planned the budget accordingly, figuring in savings from hiring replacements at a lower salary or having some reduced staff return to fill the positions. Staffers have until Friday, the deadline extended from March 31, to notify school officials or even withdraw a pending retirement.
Board members voted to table other proposed budget cuts until they know who will retire, noting that they need to know which positions will need to be filled since "a counselor and a math teacher can’t substitute for each other," as member Mary Lou Dixon said. They will return to the discussion during a May 18 meeting.