Fairfield board rehires teacher cut in RIF

By STEPHANIE DEBOLT
Correspondent

May 09, 2008 11:52 am

— BENTON, Ind. — Members of the Fairfield School Board approved staffing recommendations from Superintendent Tom Tumey at Thursday evening’s meeting.
Sarah Elledge will teach fifth grade at New Paris Elementary, returning to the corporation after being let go in the reduction in force act two years ago. Elledge will be filling the opening at the elementary school following the resignation of Jennifer Schaetzle.
“She’s a very good teacher and we’re pleased she’s coming back to us,” Tumey said.
Tumey’s recommendation also included hiring a half-time social studies instructor to accommodate enrollment increases, as well as state education requirements.
Other staffing changes include: eliminating the in-school suspension supervisor position and replacing it with a Saturday school concept and paying supervisors at substitute rates; increasing foreign language instruction to full-day, instead of only five periods per day; and to have the Millersburg Elementary School special education instructor assigned to the junior high school school for two periods per day to cover additional special education needs at that level.
“This is based upon current enrollment numbers,” Tumey said.
He added that the position vacated by retiring instructor John Christner at New Paris Elementary School would not be filled and grade-level shifting would have to be done with existing teachers. That vacated position would be reassigned to Millersburg Elementary for its enrollment increases. Benton Elementary staff would remain the same. Additional staffing needs would be evaluated as the new year approached.
According to Millersburg Principal Christine Ralston, instructors at Millersburg Elementary are looking forward to implementing new instructional strategies to allow for greater teacher collaboration and to absorb additional students easier.
“We’re making a lot of changes at Millersburg, but the teachers are excited about it. I’ve had incredible cooperation,” Ralston said.

Other business

Contract bus bids from drivers Jim Bitting and Amos Yoder were approved.
The resignation of Fairfield Junior-Senior High School peer tutoring paraprofessional Elena Hackney was approved, as well as the resignation of Dave Moore, academic team coach at Fairfield Junior-Senior High School.
The board approved the hiring of Jason Smith as summer junior high baseball coach.