When the Astoria School Board signed off on the budget, it included the layoffs of two elementary school teachers, saving more than $100,000. The cutbacks, which also included a bus mechanic, were fewer than in years past but still hard to swallow.

Superintendent Craig Hoppes, though, rescinded those two layoffs at Wednesdays school board meeting, when it was announced that two other teachers would be leaving the district.

Baron Guido, a teacher at Gray Alternative High School, will be taking a job as director of special programs in Brookings. Sixth-grade teacher Ray Merritt retired, effective June 30.

Its been a pleasure working with them, said Guido about his time in Astoria, adding that he served as a mentor to some of the beginning teachers who received their pink slips. He said his family is excited about the move to Brookings, and hes thankful that because of his leaving, he was able to help the teachers get their jobs back.

Hoppes said it hasnt been determined how teachers at the middle and high schools will be reorganized to accommodate for the two fewer positions.

In other action, the school board signed administrator contracts.

Hoppes will make $98,380 this school year, including the 12 furlough days he will take. Hes signed on for at least three more years through June 30, 2015 although the pay scale for the latter two has not yet been decided.

The superintendent will continue receiving Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) contributions, $100,000 in life insurance, 20 days of vacation and reimbursement for property damage and vandalism related to his position with the district.

The district recently finished the review of Hoppes work, giving him generally positive marks.

Astoria School District Board of Directors is delighted to report that this review process has reinforced our belief that Superintendent Craig Hoppes is a superior leader, wrote the board in a summary of its evaluation. He has excellent communication skills and the forethought to include staff and members of the community in his decision making.

The board mentioned several of areas of improvement they would like to see from Hoppes, including curriculum planning. Although Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) have helped, they wrote, they would like to see them used properly at all levels of the district. Board members recommended that Hoppes delegate some of those tasks, including curriculum planning and budgeting, to other personnel.

They would also like to see more Expanded Options dual college-high school credits and honor diplomas.

I will put more on my staff, but I feel I can handle it, said Hoppes about his workload, adding that he uses the Northwest Regional Education District to help him with some of the work.

The board signed off on contracts for the each of the districts principals:

AHS?Principal Lynn Jackson will earn $97,650 for 225 days.

AHS?Assistant Principal Chad Madsen will earn $86,529 for 220 days.

Astoria Middle School Principal Ron Alley will earn $91,985 for 220 days.

John Jacob Astor Elementary School Principal Travis Roe will earn $88,234 for 220 days.

Director of Special Programs Linda Berger will earn $91,985 for 220 days.

These contract amounts dont include the 12 furlough days that each administrator will subtract from their salary. Each of these salaries amounts is a 1 percent increase from the year prior, which all district employees receive. Berger also serves as assistant principal at the middle school. Some salary amounts the district left in the contract language will not be used, as the positions have been cut.

When we cut a position, we leave positions within a contract in case we add them back, said Hoppes. We cut five or six positions last year, but they remain in the contract; theyre just not used.

The board also approved its achievement compacts for the 2012-13 academic year. The compacts are a partnership agreement between the state and a school district or other institution of public education that defines key measures of student success and sets targets for achievement. They will allow the state to replace provisions of No Child Left Behind with a more supportive and flexible state K-12 accountability system. Hoppes said the submittal of the compacts will most likely result in the state sending them back and asking the district to review some areas.