— by Margie Doyle —

At the special school board meeting held on Thursday, June 9, 2016, the Orcas Island School District board approved the following staffing decisions among certificated, classified and co-curricular positions:

Certificated:
● Approve an intent to retire and separate from OISD from Lori Oakes, MS Teacher, at the end of the 2015-16 school year.
● Approve a resignation from Marta-Turksel Branch, OASIS and HS Teacher, at the end of the 2015-16 school year.
● Open a 0.80 annual FTE non-continuing, leave replacement Special Education Teacher position for the 2016-17 school year due to K. Schuh’s leave of absence. Approximate annual cost: $96,600.00; includes a 38% benefit allocation.

Classified:
● Open a 0.545 annual FTE (6.0 hours/day for 178 school days) ParaEducator 1 position, due to Jan Reid’s retirement, for the 2016-17 school year. Approximate annual cost: $29,030.00; includes a 60% benefit allocation..
● Open a 0.358 annual FTE (4.0 hours/day for 175 school days) ParaEducator 2 position, due to Phil Branch’s retirement, for the 2016-17 school year. Approximate annual cost: $20,237.00; includes a 60% benefit allocation.
● Open a 0.715 annual FTE (8.0 hours/day for 175 school days) ParaEducator 1 position, due to Alexa Borkan’s resignation for the 2016-17 school year. Approximate annual cost: $38,093.00; includes a 60% benefit allocation.
● Hire Erika Harlow as a 0.019actual FTE ParaEducator 1 for the 2015-16 ESY (Extended School Year). Approximate annual cost: $750.00; includes a 22% benefit allocation.

Co-curricular:
● Accept a resignation from Jim Passer, OHS Head Baseball Coach, effective May 24, 2016.
● Open the OHS Head Baseball Coach position for the 2016-17 school year due to J. Passer’s resignation. Step 1 stipend: $2,329.00..

The OISD board also reviewed the proposed 2016-17 General Budget.