The retirement resignation of Treasurer Donald Gambal was accepted by the Financial Planning and Supervision Commission for the Springfield Local School District at its Dec. 15 meeting.
The commission approved a five-year contract for Superintendent William Stauffer without increases in salary.
The Board of Education approved a five-year contract at its Aug. 11 meeting which included increases in salary each year over the next five-years. That contract was not approved by the commission and has been rescinded.
Commission Chairperson William Wenger commended Stauffer for going back and asking that the changes be made in that contract.
“Although I do not think it is the right thing to do, based on the situation the way it is here in the district and with negotiations going on with certified personnel, I do commend you for this move,” Wenger said. “This is a rollover of the contract that he had minus the step increases in salary.”
The board can decide in the future to increase Stauffer's salary but it would need to go through the commission for approval.
“There have been a lot of cuts in this district,” said Laura Brown, representative from the State Auditor's Office.
Brown gave the auditor's report on the district's audit certifying that there is an anticipated deficit for the 2009-10 fiscal year of $329,000.
“You can see that the salaries have gone down this year but that is because some of those salaries are being paid from the stimulus money,” she said.
Brown also stated that there has been an increase in health care costs that total $400,000 and that the district has seen a decrease in students over the last two years which results in a loss of funds for the school system.
“I believe we will get through this year but this spring there are going to be some major decisions to be made,” Wenger said.
The next commission meeting will be held on Feb. 23, 2 p.m.
