The Vinton-Shellsburg School board spent part of Monday’s meeting discussing the difficult topic of reducing staff as the district’s enrollment continues to decrease.

“If we have fewer kids we have to have fewer teachers,” said Superintendent Mary Jo Hainstock. The district’s enrollment has declined by 120 between 2010-11 and 2013-14.

The school board approved a list of staffing changes for the 2013-14 school year, while also discussing potential changes for 2014 and beyond.

Below is the list of anticipated changes, as Hainstock presented it to the board:

Elementary sections will be similar to this year’s, with the exception that we will reduce a first grade and second grade section at Tilford while adding a third grade section. We are reducing a first grade section at Tilford while adding a second grade section.

We will reduce two special education teacher positions, one at the middle school and one at Shellsburg. Both will be done through attrition via the early retirement program.
We will make adjustments in our special education associates based on student enrollment.

We will adjust how we serve students in music including general music, choir and band. We anticipate we may reduce one position and it will be done through attrition via the early retirement program. At this time we anticipate students will begin band during the summer between fifth and sixth grade or at the beginning of their 6th grade year instead of during the last trimester of 5th grade.

We will finalize the staffing assignments after a discussion with the department and administrative team.

We will reduce the number of sections offered for French based on enrollment numbers. There is a potential reduction in force.

We will adjust high school teachers’ assignments. Some may include providing technology support if we move forward with the 1:1 initiative. Other options include providing a math or language arts lab for struggling students, providing additional support at the alternative high school, etc. We are currently in the process of developing the final schedule prior to student registration.

If there are additional retirements or resignations, we will consider if we can fill the position internally instead of hiring.

A few parents at the meeting expressed concerns about the impact of cutting the music department, and the impact of the cuts on excellence as well as student participation.