Penn Hills School District has reduced staff at its administration building by restructuring employees' duties and responsibilities.

Penn Hills School Board last week unanimously approved eliminating the positions of home and school visitor, director of curriculum and assessment, supervisor of transportation and plant operations and coordinator of human resources and benefits.

The positions were held by Christina Rago, home and school visitor; Daniel Lujetic, director of curriculum and assessment; Wayne Freed, supervisor of transportation and plant operations; and Roseanne Burkett, coordinator of human resources and benefits.

Years of service for those employees ranged from one to 15 years, said Teresita Kolenchak, district spokeswoman.

The restructuring was needed to streamline and make the work of the administration office and other aspects of the district more effective and efficient, she said.

The district will save between $450,000 and $500,000 from the restructuring, Kolenchak said.

The maintenance supervisor and bus garage supervisor positions also were eliminated and a position for transportation and child accounting was created.

Existing staff members are handling maintenance, Kolenchak said.

The benefits coordinator position was restructured and secretarial positions also are being restructured, but those moves may result in no furloughs, depending on retirements, according to Kolenchak.

The board also approved three retirements of secretaries in the administration building -- Sandra Arrigo, confidential business office secretary; Carol Dunkle, accounts payable secretary; and Donna Lord-Liberto, superintendent's office secretary.

The restructuring of administrative positions was recommended by the superintendent and by the management assessment study done for the district by Education Management Group.

District officials are not sure whether other positions will be cut in the near future or in the 2008-09 budget. That will depend on the school reconfiguration proposal that is chosen, Kolenchak said.

Board member Barry Patterson said the decision to eliminate positions was difficult, especially when he knows the people who held the positions.

Board member Margie Krogh said eliminating the positions was among the most difficult decisions she and the other board members have made.