Neoga Approves Administrative Restructuring

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Published on May 15 2015 11:47 am
Last Updated on May 15 2015 11:47 am
Written by Greg Sapp

The Neoga Board of Education Thursday approved an administrative restructuring.

The moves were made for two reasons. One is the limited number of days that Interim Superintendent Beth Pressler can work. Two, the school board decided to go from three to two attendance centers for next school year.

With those factors in mind, the Board decided to reassign middle school principal Seth James as a classroom teacher. Also, the Board added the title of assistant superintendent to high school principal Benjamin Johnson. Carol Smith will continue as elementary school principal, and Jeff Wooters will continue as athletic director and dean of students at the junior-senior high school building.

Under terms of her retirement from work in other school districts, Pressler can only work 100 days a year. That hasn't been a pressing issue this school year since she only began her duties earlier this year. With the new school year, though, Pressler will be pretty much limited to working two days a week.

The Board also heard from the Neoga Booster Club that they will come up with $40,000 to cover the cost of coaches stipends and equipment needs for the coming school year, meaning that sports will be offered at Neoga. The total amount is to be available by July 15, when the agreement will be finalized. The Booster Club will utilize some of the funds that have been raised for a new track. Booster Club officials made it clear that this is a one-year-only offer.

Board members also heard from representatives of a group known as Property Owners Alliance. Jan McKinney and Lincoln Andrews from the group reviewed how they feel the District got into the financial distress now being battled, including less state funding, the Reliant Energy tax revenue payback, and a smaller population on which state aid is based. Pressler said it was a useful dialogue in an effort to bring the community together on how to remedy the financial situation in which the district finds itself.

The Board also reviewed wind damage in recent days at the high school building. Much of the damage has already been repaired. Also, an increase in athletic fees was approved, from $25/sport to $50/sport with a $300 cap per family in another effort to cover costs.

The Neoga board will meet again next week to consider candidates for an open seat on the school board.