>Kristin Harty Barkley
Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Tue May 17, 2011, 11:29 PM EDT
— OAKLAND — Garrett County teachers who received pink slips earlier this month can breathe a little easier.
They’re keeping their jobs — at least for the coming year.
After months of struggle, Superintendent Wendell Teets presented a proposed fiscal 2012 budget Tuesday night that maintains most existing programs, including some that were previously on the chopping block, such as afterschool and athletic programs.
And, thanks to 27 teachers who are retiring through an incentive program, the school system can maintain staffing levels in the coming year.
“That program saved a lot of young teachers and provided an investment in the future of the school system,” Teets said during a special meeting of the Garrett County Board of Education. “We would have had to look at layoffs.”
Though the school system’s budget is 2 percent less than last year, the budget presented Tuesday salvaged far more than many had expected.
Initially faced with a $3.1 million funding shortfall, the board has been considering a variety of painful cuts, including closing its two most-expensive-to-operate elementary schools — Bloomington and Kitzmiller.
After receiving additional appropriations from the county and state, the board voted in April to close Bloomington at the end of this year, saving around $426,000 in the fiscal 2012 budget.
Kitzmiller, it decided, could remain open — for now.
“It’s been a hard year,” said Teets, who is retiring this summer after 14 years as superintendent. “Tough decisions. But we’ve been able to protect our program and support our students, and we’re doing the best we can to support our personnel.”
Education funding is expected to be in short supply for the foreseeable future as Garrett County faces declining enrollment and increasing wealth, based on a state funding formula. Enrollment in Garrett County schools has declined by around 10 percent over the last decade and is expected to decline another 10 percent by 2019, data shows. Currently, there are around 4,200 students in the system.
Like many other residents, Garrett County teacher Mary Jo Johnson anticipated the worst Tuesday when the proposed budget was unveiled.
“It was dread. Total dread,” said Johnson, who arrived just in time to hear a summary of the good news that all teachers will keep their jobs.
The board, which is reviewing the proposed budget, is expected to vote on a final version at its June meeting.
“They reinstated everyone — wonderful,” said Johnson, who teaches second grade at Accident Elementary School. She said two teachers there received layoff notices earlier this month.
“They may not necessarily be back in their same positions, but they have a job. That’s a big thing.”
Also on Tuesday, the board approved the following personnel appointments:
• David Yoder, principal of Accident Elementary School;
• Dawna Ashby, principal of Broad Ford Elementary School;
• Patrick Damon, principal Kitzmiller Elementary.
• Jessica Fratz, principal Swan Meadow School.
• Tracie Miller, principal Friendsville Elementary.
• Todd Shaffer, principal, Dennett Road Elementary.
• Deneice Shultz, pupil personnel worker, Central Office.
• Richard Stevens, assistant principal, Northern Middle School.
• Mary VanSickle, family support worker, Dennett Road Elementary.
• Lynan Friend, cafeteria worker, Broad Ford Elementary.
• Robert Sines, head custodian II, Northern Garrett High School.
• Tim Sines, head sucsodian III, Northern Middle School.
Contact Kristin Harty Barkley at kbarkley@times-news.com
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