No health benefits for new PUSD trustees

From now on, trustees elected into the Porterville Unified School District will not be offered health benefits.

That was the decision passed by the Porterville Unified School District Governing Board of Trustees during its regular meeting Thursday evening.

Trustee David DePaoli made the motion during the business portion of the board’s agenda as Assistant Superintendent Ken Gibbs reported on the 2012-2013 District budget.

“The polls don’t look particularly good for the future of our election,” Gibbs said as he talked about polls representing support of Proposition 30.

Gibbs added the District could also lose $1,806,439 in federal funding.

DePaoli praised the administration for keeping Porterville Unified afloat despite trying times.

“State Legislature has to get their act in gear,” DePaoli said. “We know we have to be frugal. The administration in this school district does an excellent job of keeping it all together.”

DePaoli referred to PUSD as a major, successful, business operation.

“With the demure of Proposition 30 and 38, we are going to have to make some major cuts,” DePaoli said.

That was when he made the motion, that effective Nov. 1, any first-time, new trustees not be offered health benefits. The motion passed 7-0.

Though not in attendance, John Hardin, a Porterville resident who has been fighting to have the Porterville Unified School District’s Board of Trustees’ health and welfare benefits costs curbed, said he believes it was done purely from an election standpoint and that nothing precludes the Board from re-adding the benefit after the election.

“I think its important they acknowledge the fact that its a huge expense. While it’s a positive step, it doesn’t address the legacy clause — it barely scratches the surface of the legacy. And I find it interesting that they excluded themselves from the motion,” Hardin said. “There’s also nothing that precludes them from adding it back in after the election. It has no relevance. If the three board members are re-elected, everyone will continue to receive it until we end the practice to everyone who is seated.”

Contact Esther Avila at 784-5000, Ext. 1045. Follow her on Twitter @Avila_recorder.