Half of special ed teachers to retain jobs at Minooka High

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Updated: April 2, 2012 8:07AM

MINOOKA — Half the special education teachers working at Minooka High School will keep their positions in the 2012-13 school year.

When the district decentralized from the Grundy County Special Education Cooperative last year, it meant all special education teachers would be laid off. Because the teachers worked directly for the cooperative, the layoffs held true for all school districts that have since decentralized.

In a closed session last week, the Minooka High School board voted to approve the hiring of 12 special education teachers for next year. Six of those who were hired have been working at Minooka under the co-op.

During the regular board meeting, Channahon resident Heather VandenBerg spoke up in support of all the special-ed teachers. VandenBerg has three young children who will eventually attend the high school.

VandenBerg voiced concerns about the way the decentralization was being handled by the district.

“Is it being handled as smoothly as it could be hiring new staff?” she asked.

VandenBerg said it was her understanding that no teacher with more than five years of service currently working at the school in special education was going to be interviewed for a position.

“I want to know why these teachers weren’t even asked (to interview),” VandenBerg said. “They have been a part of this school, a part of this community.”

In a phone conversation Wednesday, Superintendent Jim Colyott said all but one of the teachers who were hired have a master’s degree.

“The district did not just hire the cheapest people we could find or the least educated,” Colyott said.

The interview committee received 100 applications. That was narrowed down to 40 candidates, of which 36 interviewed, Colyott said.

“We recommended 12 (of those) to be employed, and six of them were from the co-op,” he said.

The vacancies were posted internally and publicly. Thirteen of 15 co-op teachers applied for positions, and all were granted interviews, Colyott said.