Hot Springs RIFs hit high school hardest

than a third of the reduction in force decisions approved by the Hot Springs School Board on Tuesday affected Hot Springs High School.

A total of 28 non-renewals, three resignations and one retirement were approved during the regular monthly meeting in the board room of the Jones School Historic Building. The district notified 38 employees in December their positions would be cut before the start of the 2016-17 school year.

The RIF notifications were split evenly among certified and classified personnel. Superintendent Mike Hernandez met with faculty and staff at the start of October to outline the financial reasons for the cuts.

The RIF is planned to save the district $1.7 million next school year.

Eleven of the 28 non-renewals will affect personnel at the

high school. A total of 13 cuts at the high school, including two resignations, were approved.

Five cuts were also made at Hot Springs Intermediate School and Oaklawn Visual and Performing Arts Magnet School. Two cuts each were made at Hot Springs ALE Summit School and Gardner STEM Magnet School.

The non-renewals reflect positions eliminated in the RIF. No employees will be hired to fill the positions vacated due to the accepted resignations and retirements.

The cuts affected 10 classroom teachers, nine support staff, seven nutrition workers and six administrators.

Non-renewals at the high school included Gerald Hatley, assistant principal, and classroom teachers Justin Buck, language arts; Kyle Green, math; Marian Jimerson, social studies; Lindsey Steele, social studies; and Kristina Ward, math. Support staff non-renewals were Alisha Chatman, human services, and Ashley Hill, attendance clerk.

William Harris, facilitator, and Toni Shelton, secretary, resigned from their positions at the high school. Their final day at the school will be Jan. 29.

Administrators Michelle Moore, dean of academics, and Lamont Page, dean of students, were included in the non-renewals at the intermediate school. RIF notices were also given to teachers Jacquelyn Tutton, language arts, and Meridith Armstrong, social studies.

Sharese White, dean of academics, resigned from Oaklawn effective Jan. 4. Non-renewals at Oaklawn included Carlie Isadore, secretary; Kim Keller, secretary; Charlene Lampinen, technology specialist; and Melody Timm, paraprofessional.

Non-renewals at the Summit School were Janette Bales, high school science, and Johnny Davis, GED program and technology. Other cuts included Theresia Gunnell, secretary at Park Magnet, and Christy Hodges, a paraprofessional at Gardner.

Cuts were made in child nutrition throughout the district. Barbara Norwood, district director of child nutrition, was among the non-renewals.

The seven nutrition positions cut included Lana Grimes, Roberta Joseph and Valerie Larue at the high school, as well as Tanya Montgomery, Gardner; Linda Rogers, middle school; Marilyn Swarts, Oaklawn; and Anita Wilson, intermediate school.

Janice McCoy, director of elementary education, will retire effective June 30. McCoy and Terry Lawler, principal of Langston Aerospace and Environmental Studies Magnet School, were recognized during Tuesday’s meeting for their retirements.

The RIF decisions were announced after an executive session of an hour and 10 minutes. Board President Debbie Ugbade said the board would discuss evaluations of Hernandez during the session.

Ugbade said after the session the board was “extremely pleased” with Hernandez’s performance during his first semester in the position. The board approved an extension of one year to Hernandez’s contract to 2019.

Members of the board were recognized at the start of the meeting in honor of School Board Recognition Month. Hernandez read a city ordinance about School Board Recognition Month presented by Mayor Ruth Carney.

Ugbade and board members Steve White, Ann Hill, Bob Freeman and Lonell Lenox received plaques from the district.

The board approved a memorandum of understanding with the Adult Education department at National Park College to host programs in the Jones Building. Bill Ritter, director of Adult Education, attended Tuesday’s meeting to discuss the partnership.

Ritter said his department provides three main services to help people earn Arkansas High School Diplomas, formerly known as General Educational Development diplomas; develop workplace and computer skills through the Workforce Alliance for Growth in the Economy program; and help immigrants learn how to speak English and begin the path to citizenship.

“I think we can all agree that there are plenty of people in this area that can be served in those three areas,” Ritter said. “We are very happy to do that. It will not cost a thing to the district. It will not cost a thing to the student.

Hernandez said the district has discussed with the college how to utilize available space at the Jones Building to serve the community. The district will provide the space. The college will provide the teacher and equipment.

Ritter said Adult Education is provided by tax dollars. The department is funded through federal and state grants.

“We are happy to be here, proud to serve this community and we are proud to be more involved with this community by this partnership,” Ritter said. “I hope we can help a lot of folks and I think we can.”

Hernandez and Jim Gentry, assistant superintendent, provided details on the latest update to the district’s six-year facility master plan.