Grosse Pointe Board of Education
votes to restore clerical staff

The Grosse Pointe Board of Education voted Monday (Sept. 26) to reverse recent cuts in clerical staff, drawing enthusiastic applause from the audience.

The board had reduced clerical staff in July to accommodate reductions in state funding. Tom Harwood, assistant superintendent for human resources, said the cuts amounted to four full-time workers.

Clerical staff duties include handing out medication to students and managing medical emergencies. The cuts left schools without adequate staff to ensure the safety of students, board secretary Judy Gafa said. “It boggles my mind that two lay people are in an office handing out that many medications,” she said. “That is when you are opening yourself up to mistakes.

“We have to address education needs, but we also have to keep our kids safe and healthy, too,” Gafa continued.

Sheryl Hogan, president of the Grosse Pointe Education Association of Office Personnel, called the situation “an accident waiting to happen.”

Hogan asked the board to cancel all clerical cuts “so we can do our job and do the best we can for the students.”

Board member Cindy Pangborn agreed with Gafa and Hogan that a lack of clerical staff is “such a huge safety issue.” Board member Tom Jakubiec, however, cautioned the board against spending money the district doesn’t have. President John Steininger called it “spending (the school district’s) savings to restore the positions.”

After lengthy discussion and scattered disagreement, the motion to restore clerical staff to last year’s levels passed unanimously.

The board also approved the tax levy for 2011-12 and congratulated the Grosse Pointe South High School girls track team for winning the Division I state championship. Steininger presented representatives from the team with certificates recognizing their accomplishment.

The next Board of Education regular meeting is set for Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. at Grosse Pointe South High School.

• Login or register to post comments
• Printer-friendly version
• Send by email