Colon Schools cut two support staff positions

Two support-staff members were the first victims of Colon Community Schools’ employee-reduction plan.
The next wave, which could include as many as five teachers, is expected to hit when the board conducts a special meeting in early June.
During Monday’s regularly scheduled board meeting, district officials agreed to layoff high school secretary Marianne Verner and elementary teacher assistant Stacy Sult. Verner is a 20-year employee; Sult is in her first year with the district.
Junior high science teacher Ann Vinson addressed the board at the onset of the meeting. She acknowledged the decisions its members are having to make in order to establish a budget for the 2015-16 academic year are difficult. Still, she said the moves are creating a negative vibe.
Vinson asked board members their vision or plan is for the 609-student district. She said the question is based not only on her standing as an 18-year employee of the district, but as the mother of four Colon Community Schools students.
Struggling to maintain her composure, Vinson said she was not being overly dramatic and that morale within the three-building district “is at an all-time low.”