School reviews reduction in force policy

NEBRASKA CITY – The Nebraska City School Board president says a review of the school’s reduction in force policy at a December meeting is not linked to direction given to the superintendent to seek reduction in costs and increased revenue.

The school board agreed to offer its central office and Pioneer Academy buildings for sale at the meeting and Superintendent Mark Fritch says he was directed to pursue all avenues of increasing revenue in the form of a possible levy override election and decreasing expenditures in staffing, services, programs and facilities.

Board President Kent Blum said the board established a policy review committee under interim superintendent Rex Pfeil and the review of the reduction in force policy was in sequence with the normal review process.

He said the school board has directed the superintendent to devise a plan to remedy the school’s financial situation, which, board records say, included a negative balance of $600,000 and $2.4 million in tax anticipation notes.

Blum said the school board is awaiting Superintendent Fritch's plan. He said the policy was read at the meeting, but reduction in force has not been discussed by the board.
He said it is possible that it might be discussed in the future, if a reduction in force is part of the superintendent’s recommendations. 

The policy committee read the reduction in force policy at the meeting and recommended no changes.

The policy says staff may be reduced when there is a change in circumstances, including declining enrollment, increased costs or changes in financial support.

The policy outlines the criteria for selection staff for a reduction. The criteria include staff’s areas of endorsement, involvement in programs, special training and evaluations, as well as duration of service.