JEFFERSON TWP — Students in the South Butler School District will attend classes until June 15.

The school board at its Wednesday night meeting unanimously approved the change to the school calendar.

Superintendent David Foley said the original last day of school was June 4, but in order to allow students to attend the state-mandated 180 days of instruction, the date would be advanced to June 15.

The change was necessitated by the teachers' strike that began March 15 and continued until Tuesday.

According to state Act 88, teachers are limited in the amount of time they can strike so that students can receive their 180 days of instruction by June 15.

Board to videotape meetings

Also at the meeting, Matt Cimbala, school board president, announced that school board meetings would now be videotaped.

He did not give a reason for the action, but was questioned by some of the more than 60 people who attended the meeting.

Resident Dave McCool asked Cimbala about the board's plan for making the videotapes accessible to residents.

District solicitor Tom Breth replied that residents must submit a right-to-know request to the district if they are interested in viewing the videotape.

Another resident asked how the videotape would be used by the district.

Cimbala replied that the videotape is the district's property and might be posted on the website.

“We don't know,” Cimbala said.

Teacher Ian Babb, who is also the president of the South Butler School District Education Association, asked the board if a policy would be adopted regarding the videotaping of the meetings.

Cimbala said the board could look into adopting a policy.

Babb said the teachers are concerned about being individually recorded when they speak at a school board meeting and that the board gave no clear reason for videotaping the meetings.

“We thought it would be a good idea to record the meetings,” Cimbala replied.

Babb said he is concerned because no guidelines or purposes for the video's use was expressed by the board.

“I hope the board will consider adopting a policy for guidelines on how the video will be used,” Babb said.

School counselor may be added

The school board also heard Foley suggest that an additional school counselor be added at the high school.

Foley said the counselor would aid students in their transition from eighth to ninth grade.

He said more students in the district are found to be in crisis, and the counselor would reduce the ratio of students to counselors. The move also would allow counselors to gain a better understanding of student needs, including services outside of the district.

In interviewing counselors for an existing position, Foley said several qualified candidates are available.

The cost for the new position, Foley said, would be offset by the savings from retirements.

“This would be somewhat cost neutral,” Foley said.

He said hiring an additional counselor would enhance school safety.

Board member Donna Eakin said she feels an additional school counselor would be beneficial to students, but she is concerned about class size if the district is top heavy on counselors.

Foley replied that enrollment numbers are decreasing, but other difficulties have increased regarding students.

“I suggest we move forward,” Foley said.

Cimbala indicated that he would support the measure.

Foley said he will bring the names of two candidates for the position to next Wednesday's school board meeting.

“I do believe this is a proactive approach, getting a hold on some of the challenges,” Foley said.

Contract impasse

Three residents spoke during the public comment session before the meeting and several at the session after the meeting on their support for the teachers in the contract impasse.

All chided the board for not settling with the teachers, who have been working since 2014 without a contract.

But board members Eakin and Rebecca Boyd broke their silence over the last several meetings when asked what research they have done into contract negotiations.

Both board members said they are well-informed on the subject and read many articles and speak to stakeholders in the contract impasse.

“I can assure you that we all take this job seriously and we spend the time,” Eakin said.

Boyd said the board has done its due diligence, which is evidenced by the decision to request the services of state fact finders twice and by offering the teachers various contracts.

“I don't think you can fault this board for not trying when we have signed off on two fact finders,” she said.

The board and teachers will now move on to nonbinding arbitration, in which a panel of three arbitrators will hear both sides' arguments and create a contract.

If one side rejects the panel's contract, negotiations will resume.