D135 Expects Positions to be Cut But Hopes to Retain All Teachers

Declining enrollment is expected to cause Orland School District 135 to lose 7.5 teacher positions, though a district administrator hopes she can keep every teacher for the start of next year.

Julie Oberwise, director of human resources, told the district’s board of education Monday that the difference between teachers and positions should be made up through retirements. In total, 19 mostly special education and physical education teachers and 2 principals are retiring between this school year and next, she noted.

But there’s still a chance some teachers and staff hired within the last two years won’t get called back. There are 12 certified teachers and six full- and part-time paraprofessionals, all hired within the last two years, on that list—which was approved by the board Monday night. They were chosen by hiring date rather than position title.

“I do anticipate that we’re going to recall most of the teachers...” Oberwise said. “I’m hopeful.”

Those teachers who went on leave this year will be guaranteed a job the next, but it won’t necessarily be the one they left. Oberwise expects a shuffling of resources during an early April’s bid process between teachers and their principals.

At the administrative level, the district will likely lose one position. In that event, Liberty School and High Point School will share an assistant principal.

Oberwise noted that the number of kindergarteners jumped this year from 250 to 450, while the number of first graders have been spiking even higher. Explaining the latter, Oberwise said she believes—though cannot prove—that many dual income households in Orland send their kids elsewhere for kindergarten because District 135 lacks a full-day kindergarten program.

“We’ve projected (enrollment) to be down about 110 students next year,” she added. “It’s hard to tell because with kindergarten numbers we just guess…we have no way of knowing until they come (register).”

In other school board news:

• Superintendent Paul Howell is seeking comments from board members before he posts an official response to school district consolidation bills in Springfield on the website. In short, Howell said House Bill 1886 and others like it are “not in the best interest” of District 135.
• The district will destroy parts of closed session audio recordings. State law requires public institutions to review all closed session board minutes no less than twice a year and allows them to destroy part or all of it once it reaches 18 months old.
• Also per state law, the board approved changes to the district’s food allergy management program. The district was already in compliance with the statute, but needed to express it in writing, Oberwise said, noting that it’s mostly about keeping teachers aware and preventing allergic reactions in certain students.
• Leslie Moyar, who has a daughter at Orland Junior High, spoke during the citizen’s remarks portion of Monday’s meeting and requested the board look into expanding choir class to zero hour class like other district schools. Board president Thomas Cunningham told her that Howell would look into it and get back to her.