Two staff members retire, bring budget closer to balanced

by Angie Asam-Staff Writer

At a special meeting of the Onaway Area Community Schools Board of Education, the board officially accepted the retirement of B.J. Kemme and approved a layoff notice for Michael Franklin.

Franklin had told secondary principal Marty Mix and Frieda Daugherty, who works in the central office, that his intention was to retire. Because the board had not received an official letter from him at the time of the meeting they had to issue the layoff notice.

At the July 9 meeting of the board superintendent Rod Fullerton told the board that the budget deficit was worse than expected at the end of the 2012-13 fiscal year by approximately $70,000. That deficit brought the total deficit to $372,000, which was covered by the fund equity. Fund equity is now down to seven percent of the district’s operating costs.

Kemme served as the district’s librarian, oversaw the Nova Net lab, taught a middle school writing cla

ss and oversaw the in-school suspension lab.  She has been with the district for 28 years. She will be working with the district through Sept. 30 to fulfill the years she needs to have for retirement.

Because of budget issues, both were likely to be laid off and the recent events will save the district approximately $104,000 next year and bring the budget closer to balanced.

Franklin was a part-time high school guidance counselor. His role will be filled by a number of people who have been helping out in that role since he went from full-time to part-time a few years ago, due to budget constraints.

A series of people will help fill the void left when Kemme retires, but most likely a paraprofessional will be placed in the library. Kemme’s biggest worry about her retirement is that the library will go back to the Stone Ages. She has been very busy writing grants to get new books and get the library properly cataloged.