COAL TOWNSHIP - Up to 12 Shamokin Area School District employees expected to be furloughed next school year may not lose their jobs after all, according to two school board directors.
The school board is also expected to vote on, or at least discuss, approving a contract for renovations to the elementary building, privatizing cafeteria services and hiring a head basketball coach for the girls and boys programs.
The board is also expected to vote tonight on a balanced budget of $28.8 million for 2012-13, according to several school board directors.
Ron McElwee said late Monday that a dozen employees, the far majority of whom are elementary teachers, would be reinstated at tonight's school board meeting.
Ed Griffiths, also reached late Monday, put the total at 11.
The reinstatements do not include any of the art, music or physical education teachers laid off, McElwee said.
Those programs are expected to be taught by homeroom teachers at the elementary level and are to be worked into the core curriculum at the middle school level.
While McElwee did not wish to provide names of those no longer facing furlough because details of the decision have not been finalized, he said the entirety of the nine member board is thrilled with the impending return of the furloughed employees.
The school board voted in April to lay off 21 employees, 19 of whom were teachers, while the district worked to erase a deficit that had once topped $5.6 million.
News of the once massive budget deficit spread last spring, even before the 2011-12 budget was adopted. It loomed as five new directors were elected to the board and began their terms in office in January - less than six months ahead of a June 30 deadline to adopt a budget for next school year.
Since then, directors worked this year to finalize the elimination of spending on equipment and materials, enter a controversial employment contract with Northwestern Academy, seek donations from alumni and slash its athletic budget by 35 percent.
They also offered early retirement incentives to district employees, and it appears retirements and resignations played a large part in potentially preserving some jobs.
McElwee and Director Brian Persing each said Monday the district is expected to use more than $1 million from its reserve funding to make up the final deficit number.
Directors won't have long to relax. Next year's budget deficit is predicted at just under $3 million.
Food service debate
A vote on the privatization of the school cafeteria could affect exactly how the deficit is zeroed out, and also the future employment of its cafeteria employees.
A district consultant, The Nutrition Group, has submitted a proposal at the board's request to take over the food service program in its entirety.
According to school board directors, the consultant claimed it can save more than $175,000 next school year, assuming the staff is provided by The Nutrition Group.
Approximately $32,000 could be saved if district retains its own staff.
There are 27 employees in the cafeteria, according to district salary information. However, its expected that several resignations will be accepted at tonight's meeting.
Director Charlie Shuey and McElwee are opposed to the plan. Both say the savings come at the expense of the employees, adding the company would likely lay them off.
Griffiths favors a move toward privatization. He said the district has little choice, citing the savings and saying he believes the company will keep the employees.
If the board does not approve privatization, Griffiths said the district would likely have to lay off a Pennsylvania System of School Assessment mathematics teacher.
Shuey and McElwee, in separate interviews, were firm about district cafeteria workers being in danger of furloughs.
Each said The Nutrition Group's pair of proposals are identical - except labor costs. That, they said, is proof cuts to staff would be imminent.
Other business
The front-runner for the boys basketball job is Chris Zimmerman, long considered the heir apparent for the job.
Joe Klebon, longtime head coach and guidance counselor, announced last week he'd resign, expected to be approved tonight.
Persing said Monday the position was advertised in-house and that Zimmerman was the lone applicant.
Bill Callahan, who resigned as girls coach earlier this year, is expected to be asked back, several directors said Monday.
The proposed elementary renovations include a new roof, concrete work in the cafeteria and on exterior walls and new chillers, directors said. That could come at a cost of $4 million. Bids for the work were opened Wednesday.