SMETHPORT — In the continuing effort to erase cafeteria deficits, Smethport Area School superintendent David London said Monday that he backs trying an option for several years that restructures the labor force and keeps both the elementary and secondary cafeterias open.
“No vote is necessary tonight, but the administration needs direction on this matter,” London told the directors, adding, “any change may require restructuring the memorandum of understanding with the Smethport Area Education Support Professional Association.”
Later, the directors voted unanimously to remove from the table the MOU. The directors then replaced that one with a new MOU with the SAESPA for a temporary alteration of assignments for the custodial and cafeteria staffs. The SAESPA would also have to vote on this MOU.
London said that the proposed restructuring would result in savings in wages, health insurance and other benefits.
The restructuring under consideration would reduce daily hours for cafeteria employees from 51 to 45, as several full-time positions would be reduced to part-time status.
In a later vote, the directors approved Kathleen Pearson, a six-hour employee, to move to the temporary eight-hour cafeteria position with additional responsibilities of cleaning the two cafeterias.
During the discussion of the cafeteria deficits, director Dan Wertz spoke about his concern about the lost revenue the district must cover due to cyber schools.
“In a recent year, cyber school tuition cost us more than $364,000, which was more than twice the cafeteria losses,” Wertz said. “Funding for cyber schools needs serious reform at the state level.”
Responding, London said, “The board took a positive step in that direction last month by showing its opposition to Senate Bill 2.”
This bill would allow some parents to use state tax funds to send their children to private or religious schools. Opponents say this bill, which renames tuition vouchers “educational savings accounts,” could drain some $500 million in state funding for public schools.
Meanwhile, Tim Wright was hired as a full-time custodian, leaving three vacancies on that staff. London said two more custodians are to be hired.
