New Castle teacher retires, budget passes with no property tax increase

Jun. 28--One change in the New Castle Area School District's budget is the retirement of a longstanding and esteemed teacher.

The board in an 8-0 vote at a special noon meeting Thursday approved the retirement resignation of Gerianne Motto, who has been a kindergarten teacher in the Harry W. Lockley Early Learning Center for 11 years.

Superintendent Debbie DeBlasio recognized Motto for her dedication to her students and for the extended-hour days she has always put in as an educator.

The board in a 7 to 1 vote at the meeting also approved the 2019-20 district budget totaling $54 million with a general fund total of $49 million. The other $5 million is federal subsidies.

Board member Robert Lyles cast the no vote. Members George Gabriel, Pat Amabile, Anthony Ross and Lyles attended the meeting in person, while Stacey Fleo, Karen Humphrey, Steve Fornataro and Mark Panella voted by phone. Member Anna Pascarella was absent because of work obligations.

The budget approval calls for no property tax increase. The current millage is 17.27 mills.

DeBlasio explained that as part of the budgeting process, Motto's position will not be filled.

"Through attrition, the district will not replace her, as a way to reduce the budget," DeBlasio said, adding that the change will have no impact on the education of the students because positions through attrition are being realigned.

"I am doing everything that is right for the students above everything," she said. "These jobs through attrition will not hurt the students. That's always my first concern."

District business manager Joe Ambrosini explained that with the salary and benefit savings from eliminating the kindergarten position, the district is able to slightly reduce the amount it will have to draw from its reserve fund -- from about $540,000 to $460,000 -- toward balancing the budget. The reserve fund will still have more than $3 million after that amount is subtracted.

Lockley assistant principal Brian Popovich resigned a few months ago, and the district instead formed an interim dean's position that duals with a teaching job. Cara Florie was appointed to the position, saving $160,000 from Popovich's salary, benefits and retirement contribution.

The district earlier this year created three new dean positions -- one at George Washington Intermediate School, occupied by Patrick Cain, who formerly was a special education teacher; one at Lockley (occupied by Florie) and one shared with Lockley and Croton Pre-kindergarten, occupied by Kelly Corey, formerly a 5th grade teacher at George Washington.

The teaching positions occupied by Cain and Corey also were eliminated through attrition and realigning of staff, DeBlasio said.

She is now asking the board to consider extending the year an additional 10 days for the five existing dean positions, including ones at the junior and senior high schools, occupied by April Sicilliano and William Fleo, at an extra per diem pay that calculates to $5,000 each or less for the year. She pointed out that through the Lockley assistant principal attrition, the district still would be saving $135,000 by not filling the position.

"We want to extend their days whenever needed to help with activities outside of school and to help with scheduling," she said of the dean positions.

The board has not yet voted on that expense but it is in the budget, DeBlasio said. She noted that of the three dean positions, two personnel went from part time to full time.

"These were bid jobs," she said.

Lyles said he voted against the budget adoption because he opposes the district giving an additional $5,000 to three new dean positions, plus he doesn't agree that the district needs two of the three new dean positions. He said he voted no when they were created, but he agrees the full-time dean is needed at Lockley.

He believes the district cannot afford the others in its budget.

"We started out the budget process with a $912,000 deficit," Lyles said. "That's a sign that the district needs to get its financial house in order."

He said that an audit report presented to the board at its public work session by Phillip Weiner recommended that the district cut expenses.

"My objection is we have a deficit and you want to give these raises," he said of the additional $5,000 per diem. "To me, it's fiscally irresponsible. You already have a deficit, so where are you coming up with this additional money?"

He pointed out that the pre-kindergarten program at Croton has only 90 students enrolled.

"There's no rationale for needing a dean," he said.

"If we don't get our financial house in order, I think the district will be insolvent in two to three years," Lyles commented, adding that in two years, the district will have 40 teachers hitting the jump step in their salaries with $30,000 additional each at maximum payout.

"That's one of the issues we're facing," he said.

Lyles also voted against approving the district's insurance package for property, liability and casualty.

The board in a 7 to 1 vote approved an agreement with Ohio Casualty Insurance for property, fire, theft and liability package at $105,951; automobile at $9,826 and an umbrella policy for $24,436.

Lyles cast the no vote against that company because "it's going to two board members' family members."

He pointed out that the insurance agent is related by marriage to both Fornataro and Panella.

"I don't know why we're not bidding that out," Lyles said, commenting, "It seems as though it's always going to board members' family members."

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