The Huntington County Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees approved a petition to reduce school staff and heard potential student handbook changes, including attendance and drug policies, at its meeting Monday.
The board approved reducing up to 12 staff.
"We may not require quite that many because we have some retirements or resignations," HCCSC Interim Superintendent Kenneth Kline explained. He added that staff who would lose their positions would be offered first priority for positions that would require a long-term substitute next school year.
Kline said those involved in the staff reduction would be notified by Kline and the building principal during the last week of school to avoid disruption.
In an interview HCCSC board member Brian Warpup, Dist. 3, explained that the board's rationale for pursuing the reduction was based on the shrinking corporation. The population of the corporation has decreased 8 percent since the 2011-12 school year, a total decline of more than 400 students, according to HCCSC's annual corporation report required by the Indiana Department of Education.
In an interview Kline explained that since state funding is based on student population, with HCCSC's number decreasing each year it puts financial strain on the corporation to have more staff than they need.
"Just because of student declining enrollment this year we're going to be short $650,000," Kline remarked."In order to be financially responsible we are going to have to reduce our staff."
"It's not a pleasant thing to do," HCCSC board president Scott Hoffman, Dist. 1, remarked. He said that the board would do anything they could to help those let go find work following the reduction.