With less demand, there is less need for supply. It is a basic function in economics, and unfortunately a sad truth about many aspects of life. It is unavoidable. Another unavoidable in 2020? COVID-19.
In a combination of these factors, during Wednesday night’s meeting, the North Penn School District Board of Directors was forced to make a tough decision.
“The administration is recommending the reduction in hours of the listed employees effective Aug. 31, 2020, until such time the District deems their positions necessary to return to or become full time in an in-person educational model,” read the night’s agenda item.
After seconding the motion made by Director Al Roesch, Director Elisha Gee said that no one on the board would ever want to have to be put in this position.
“No one wants to motion or second this,” said Gee. “It is not something any of us want to do, and we are all saddened by this.”
The board voted unanimously in a July 30 meeting to only offer online courses for all of its K-12 students for the first marking period. The plan will be revisited on or about Nov. 6, 2020, prior to the start of the second marking period, to accommodate the ever-changing COVID-19 cases.
“The District is operating under its Emergency Health and Safety Plan due to the global pandemic caused by COVID-19, and the staffing operations are directly impacted under the plan,” said Superintendent Dr. Curtis Deitrich. “Further, a reduction in work hours is necessary under the implementation of the Emergency Health and Safety Plan.”
To abide by the plan, administration provided the board with a list of employees who would, effective Monday, face reduced hours. The term was set “until such time the District deems their positions necessary to return to or become full time in an in-person educational model.”
The reduced hours impacted around 610 employees of the district. A full list of those facing reduced hours is linked here. The employees are largely from departments such as transportation, special education assistants, school security, nutrition, reception, library, health secretaries, guidance, extended care, site directors, custodial, and building secretaries and office assistants.
“In two months, we want these people to return to school with us,” said Gee, noting the Nov. 6 deadline for reevaluating in-person educational formats.
Vice President of the Board of Directors, Christian Fusco, echoed her message.
“Clearly this is an imperfect plan,” said Fusco. “We did say, as a board, to prioritize keeping the Nov. 6 date a reality. If we furlough people, in a deficit budget year, we wouldn’t be preparing to go back.”
Fusco said that cutting hours is “yet another sacrifice” the North Penn community has had to make during COVID-19.
By reducing hours and not furloughing employees, the listed individuals would be able to remain on their health care benefits through the impacted months.
“With reduced hours, they are still on the payroll,” explained President Tina Stoll. “They will still get benefits.”
Stoll said it would also help the district in the long term, should students be able to return Nov. 6.
“We already would have them on staff,” said Stoll. “We will not need to hire, to train, a new set of employees.”
Director Jonathan Kassa echoed the pain this caused all board members.
“These folks are a huge part of our community,” said Kassa. “We are deeply sorry.”
Kassa did say, however, the blame can’t solely be placed on the board.
“We have to react to a higher level of government, and this has been pushed down on us,” he said.
He, and other board directors, urged the public to share opinions on these cuts with higher levels of government. Directors noted that they’d received “hundreds” of emails throughout the summer, and hoped that citizens would let other government officials know the pains felt at the North Penn level.
While the motion carried, 9-0, it was followed by a second motion to allow all employees with reduced hours to also remain on health care plans, despite dipping below the usual 30-hour per week requirement.
Dietrich said that, unless grandfathered prior to the policy, the district generally requires a worker to obtain 30 hours per week to get district health benefits. With the passed reductions, many would fall below that requirement, forcing them into COBRA or lack of insurance.
The motion to reduce the requirement would cover all employees, except those covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
“We are still working with support personnel [representatives],” said Deitrich. “We have not achieved that goal yet, but we continue to work with them to do so.”
North Penn School District Chief Financial Officer Steve Skrocki said that, while each case is unique, those with 20 percent or more reduction in hours should be eligible for at least partial unemployment.
“The amount of unemployment would be based on the number of reduced hours,” said Skrocki. “Some have a 75 percent reduction here, some 25, some 50.”
Fusco asked why, while other districts in the area cannot seem to do so, what it was that North Penn achieved to allow such a change. Skrocki said that North Penn spearheaded the request, being the first to ask. In doing so, the entire consortium, which includes a total of 17 school districts, would then be eligible to make such a policy.
“As long as they have some hours,” Skrocki explained, “they can remain eligible.”
The motion to allow the reduced hour requirement passed, 9-0.
See also:
In A Split Vote, North Penn School Board Approves High School Fall Sports For Upcoming School Year
For The North Penn Marching Knights, The Band Will Play On
School Board Issues Statement Following Decision To Start School Year Virtual Only
North Penn School Board Recommends All-Virtual Classes To Begin 2020-2021 School Year
North Penn Outlines Reopening Procedures For Upcoming School Year
