EARLY MORNING BOARD MEETING LAYS OFF SCHOOL STAFF

 Limestone County school board members voted early (7 AM) today to layoff 70 employees in order to meet its budget for the upcoming school year.

The board approved a list of other cost-cutting measures today, all aimed at slashing $4 to $5 million from the 2011-2012 school budget. That is the amount the state will likely prorate the school systems budget due to lower than expected tax collections.  Limestone had to cut $1.3 million midway through this school year due to proration.

The employees cut included 46 certified employees — most of them teachers and 24 non-certified employees such as custodians, bus drivers and aides.

Superintendent Dr. Barry Carroll recommended an across-the-board cut of all first-year and one-year certified and non-certified employees and one-year substitutes.

Some of the employees could be rehired before August.

“We will do all we can, but we make no promise to hire people back, ” Carroll said. 

Elkmont High School

• Certified employees, effective May 28:
Lori Beth Elliott, language arts teacher;
Garth Garris (head varsity boys basketball coach, asst football coach), physical and social science teacher;
Kathryn Pankey, mathematics teacher;
Mary Prater, collaborative teacher;
Ethan Whiteside (asst. football coach), social science teacher;
David Wilson (head football coach), physical education teacher; 

• Certified employees hired for one year or rest of year, effective May 28:
Melissa Christ, elementary teacher;

• Non-certified employees, effective June 30:
Tara Curnutt, special education inclusion assistant;

• Non-certified employees hired for one year or rest of year, effective June 30: 
Lovena Spencer, special education inclusion assistant;

• Substitutes hired for one year or rest of year, effective May 28:
elementary teachers Emily Rutherford and Morgan White;