Lay offs for teachers

With heavy hearts, members of the Mendon Community Schools Board of Education Tuesday laid off three teachers.

A fourth teacher has voluntarily agreed to switch her employment status from full-time to part-time.

The move came despite testimonials from more than 30 people who lamented the situation and loss of quality staff members.

Barring a significant change in student enrollment or the district’s financial state, not returning next year will be Caleb Stephenson, social studies; Andrea Lindsley, special education; and Matt Dague, business and computers. Language arts teacher Megan Sorensen will work in a part-time capacity. All four work at the middle school/high school.

The action will free up about $200,000 in the district’s budget, according to Superintendent Rob Kuhlman.

As was the case one night earlier in Centreville, where its board laid off seven employees, Kuhlman said a declining student enrollment and inadequate funding from the state conspired to leave the board with no other options.

The district, which ended the 2013-14 school year Tuesday, had an official enrollment of 629 students, 36 fewer than the previous academic year. Kuhlman said projections call for a loss of 43 students in 2014-15, putting the district’s enrollment below 600 students.