EAST SPENCER — The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education approved the non-renewal of 45 employees Monday in one of several unanimous votes after a closed session.
The board also voted that there would be no appeals granted for staff who are non-renewed because of budget constraints.
Superintendent Dr. Judy Grissom said after the meeting said that while the chance to appeal was offered, board members are under no obligation to grant them in this case.
Next, the school board voted to place those 45 non-renewed employees on a list according to their hire date. The individuals on that list would be rehired in a position within their license area as openings arise, and the board would have no further obligation if an employee refuses.
Grissom said 54 teachers were given notices that their positions were being eliminated. Nine of them have now been hired back as other jobs in their license areas opened up, due to resignations, retirements and other changes.
The list now includes kindergarten teachers from Cleveland, Enochville, Granite Quarry, Morgan and Woodleaf elementary schools; first grade teachers from Elizabeth D. Koontz and Knollwood elementary schools; a second grade teacher from Morgan Elementary School; a third grade teacher from Woodleaf Elementary School; fourth grade teachers from Cleveland and Shive elementary schools; and fifth grade teachers from China Grove, Elizabeth D. Koontz, Enochville and Faith elementary schools.
It also includes math teachers from East Rowan, North Rowan, South Rowan, West Rowan and Jesse C. Carson high schools; English teachers from Salisbury, South Rowan and West Rowan high schools; social studies teachers from North Rowan and Salisbury high schools; a science teacher from Salisbury High School; and a physical education teacher from South Rowan High School.
Intervention specialists from China Grove, Corriher-Lipe and North Rowan middle schools have also been laid off.
Finally, the board unanimously voted to direct Chairman Richard Miller to sign the state lottery form for drawing down dollars, including a disclaimer that it is pursuing legal clarification in relation to the board’s role. The entire board agreed to sign the disclaimer.
Earlier Monday, the Rowan County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 to withhold state sales tax money from the school system until Miller signed the lottery form. Commissioners Jon Barber and Chad Mitchell voted against that decision.
“We don’t want to penalize our students, and the health of our buildings can potentially penalize students. The sales tax money is the only source we have for regular capital maintenance,” Miller said after the meeting. “So while we’re going to continue to pursue it, we’re going to put disclaimer on it to say that we don’t agree with this, that it’s simply for drawing down money until we get a definition of what signing it means.”

Contact reporter Karissa Minn at 704-797-4222.
Twitter: twitter.com/posteducation
Facebook: facebook.com/Karissa.SalisburyPost