Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center Board of Education Hears Public

Comments on Proposed Reductions in Force and Approves Contracts for Renovations

For New Animal and Veterinary Science Program at its Regular February Meeting.

More than one dozen faculty, staff, students and members of the public attended the February 16 regular meeting of the Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center Board of Education to show support for two instructors whose positions may be eliminated at the end of the current school year as part of a proposed reduction in force. At issue were potential reductions of the Bioscience teacher and the Graphic Communications aide and the addition of a satellite agriculture education program at Ashland High School, a satellite manufacturing program at West Holmes High School and a job training coordination program for special needs students at the Career Center.

Career Center Superintendent Michael Parry said in his agenda summary that he is considering the elimination of the two positions based on student enrollment and other financial reasons in order to offset the additional cost of the new bargaining positions. “Recognizing the need to be fiscally responsible as we move forward with the addition of new programs and new positions, it is necessary to endeavor to remain as cost neutral as possible,” he said.

First to speak was Amy Elderbrock, who has worked with the Bioscience/College Now program for the last nine years. She said she was not asking to save her job but for school officials to talk with the people involved when they make decisions that affect people and to be open to new ideas and to be creative.

“I understand fiscal responsibility but I want to help with those decisions,” Elderbrock said. “The best solutions are not necessarily the easiest.” She added that she found Parry open to discussion, talked about her future at the Career Center with him and came up with some ideas.

Graphic Communications instructor Barry Sponsler also questioned whether officials talked with staff before making their recommendations. He said Dever has been more than just someone who hands out papers.

“She’s not just my aide, she is the other half of me in our graphics program,” Sponsler said. “She takes care of all the student instruction in design elements, something that I never could do as well as she does.” He told the board that its decision is a choice between cutting wages to be fiscally responsible or properly serving students, who are the Career Center’s customers.

Sponsler also read a letter from Graphic Communications students who said Dever enhanced their lab experience with her knowledge of programs such as Adobe and Photoshop and her ability to expose students to real life designers. They also pointed out that Dever chose to stay at the Career Center, even though she had many other full-time opportunities.

Richard Akam, a representative of Coburn Carton Solutions of Hayesville, a member of the industry advisory committee for the Graphics program and a Career Center alumnus agreed that Dever is very knowledgeable in various computer programs used in the industry. He also said she goes “way and above” what is required to help students and gives them the best exposure to obtain skill sets to be successful.

“I’ve hired students out of this program but I doubt I will be able to hire students if the position is eliminated,” Akam said.

Parry said that while the proposed reduction in force will not fully cover the cost of the three new positions that the board approved, it will help reduce costs and avoid duplication of services. “The challenge with this is none of the reductions are about performance. They’re strictly about affordability and growing programs that our associate schools and stakeholders are asking for,” Parry said. “We have good people doing good work and if we can retain them within the organization we are making an effort to do so. We’re working with them and having open discussions about possibilities and brainstorming new ways of doing it.”

The proposed RIF still must be discussed with and reviewed by the Ashland Vocational Teachers’ Association before the board can act.

Parry also said that the Bioscience program is not being eliminated but is being moved fully to North Central State College, which has partnered in the program since its inception. He said officials are working to creatively develop ways to repurpose the Bioscience lab at the Career Center and at the bare minimum will use it for instruction for chemistry, environmental science and physical science classes.

The Career Center Board of Education also voted at its February meeting to spend $50,000 to hire SoL Harris/Day Architects of North Canton to do the design work to renovate the former Resource Conservation area into space for the new Animal and Veterinary Science program. The board also voted to advertise for construction bids for the project that will be completed in time for the program start in the fall.

Harris/Day representative Lee King gave a PowerPoint presentation of conceptual plans, which include a large multi-purpose area for instruction and animal treatment demonstrations, six kennels and an outdoor area for dogs, shelves to accommodate cages for small animals, a laundry and a new locker area. It also calls for alternate proposals for an epoxy floor for the kennels, a surgery suite and freestanding barn.

Officials have set aside $500,000 in school funds to pay for the project and any contingencies. King said he hopes the board can award a construction contract at its March meeting and have the work done by August 1.

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