District seeks to rehire 3

Libby School Board members during Monday’s meeting agreed to advertise for the rehiring of two paraprofessionals and a teacher,  just a month after a failed mill levy vote.

During its regularly scheduled meeting, board members gave Superintendent K.W. Maki the approval to advertise for the positions.

“Advertising for them doesn’t mean we have to hire them,” Board President Ellen Johnston said.

Bolstered by the unexpected retirement of veteran consumer-education teacher Shelley Fisher, which it accepted Monday night, the board gave the green light for more hirings.

LES Principal Ron Goodman said paraprofessionals are good hires for the money.

“We want our teachers teaching. The paraporfessionals can (help with other duties).”

“Certainly, the resignation of Shelley Fisher and that of Diane (Rewerts) provided the district with an opportunity to bring some of these people back,” Maki said.

Last month, the district announced cuts of 14.17 full-time staffers. However, the recent call-backs can reduce that number to just more than 11 cuts, which were aided by seven retirements and resignations of teachers.

Also on Monday, the district approved its May financial report that with $392,785.45 in accounts payable and $629,414.96 in payroll at $1.022 million is the largest of the school year.

About six months ago, the board began making cuts in preparation for declining enrollment and concern of the unknowns of state funding. As it was, the district trimmed $700,000 from its 2013-14 budget.