Galena librarian finds position at Carthage

June 09, 2009 10:14 pm

— By Roger McKinney
rmckinney@joplinglobe.com
GALENA, Kan. — The librarian who the Galena Board of Education laid off and then rehired has quit.
The librarian, a nontenured, certified teacher, was notified in April that her contract would not be renewed. The board’s decision was based on state funding cuts to the school district.
At a meeting last month, the board reversed its decision and rehired the librarian. Superintendent Brian Smith said the librarian could be used with an elementary-level reading and math program that is being funded with federal stimulus money. The program will receive $105,000 a year for two years.
The school board on Monday approved the librarian’s voluntary resignation.
Smith said that when the board voted to not renew the librarian’s contract, she began looking elsewhere for work and found a part-time position with the Carthage (Mo.) School District.
Smith said he didn’t think the librarian thought she had been treated unfairly by the Galena district. He said the librarian had retired from another Missouri school district, and he thought she was looking for a part-time position.
Smith said the reading and math program will go forward with other teachers. He said the librarian position would be left vacant because more state cuts are likely.
Also Monday night, the board voted to hire Stephanie Simpson as a kindergarten teacher.