Hour cuts for Evesham school paraprofessionals prevented — they won't lose health benefits.

Fears that some Evesham school employees could lose their health benefits were dispelled by a school district decision last week not to cut their hours, according to a district newsletter. The cuts would have meant some workers did not meet the minimum hours required for benefit eligibility.

Justin Smith, superintendent of the Evesham Township School District, last week told 70and73.com that the district's shorter teaching day on Wednesdays, which are virtual only, required the cut in hours for some hourly employees. Smith said the shortened days could have resulted in the loss of health benefits for about 30 paraprofessionals beginning January 1.

Based on discussions last week, "we have determined that our 170 paraprofessionals will be paid for their typical full day hours on the Remote Learning Wednesdays, thereby maintaining benefits eligibility for any para (70 total) who would typically earn it this year," Smith wrote in the newsletter, which was distributed Friday.

Evesham must cut $5.4 million from the 2021-22 budget, Smith explained in the newsletter. "Our state aid will be cut an additional $1.6 million in 2022-23 and a further $1 million in 2023-24. On top of that, the pandemic has increased costs and reduced revenues. Even starting this year, a range of roles and areas of operations will be impacted as we examine each new circumstance presented by the pandemic for possible savings," he wrote.

The superintendent told of the challenges in trying to budget for the future while always keeping an eye on the goal: "Reduce the negative impact on children." 

Smith also announced that Kelly Camm, now district curriculum supervisor, will become the principal of Rice Elementary School on February 1. She will work with current principal Tami Aronow in the transition, he said. Aronow's retirement was approved at the September board meeting.

Before joining Evesham, Camm was curriculum supervisor in the Mount Laurel district and, before that, an elementary teacher in Evesham. The district curriculum supervisor position will be eliminated to cut costs, Smith told 70and73.com on Monday.