COVID-19 a recurring issue for Brooke school board
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WELLSBURG -- The Brooke County Board of Education Monday approved a monetary incentive for staff to announce their retirements earlier and discussed several issues spurred by the pandemic.
The board agreed to pay $500 to full-time staff members who submit written notification by March 1 of their intention to retire after the current school year. The offer doesn't include those in state-funded positions who already were eligible for the incentive through the state.
Superintendent Jeffrey Crook said the move is "the equitable thing to do" while helping to alleviate decisions related to staff cuts.
Deidra Parr, the school district's treasurer, said knowing staff who will be retiring may lower the number of staff facing termination and reduce the need for paid attorneys who represent the board at hearings on the proposed cuts.
"It will save everybody a lot of heartache and money," she said.
Asked if the incentive will be offered every year, Crook said that will require adopting a formal policy but the board's approval Monday allows it to be enacted at this time.
In other business, the board tabled action on proposed emergency sick leave for staff affected by COVID-19 and the payment of stipends for staff that were to be funded by the school district's five-year operating levy.
Last year the board suspended the stipends at the recommendation of its legal counsel, who said they would result in the district incurring a deficit of more than 3 percent of its budget, a state violation.
The school district was recently removed from the state's financial watch list, a status spurred by a $3.2 million shortfall in funds from the levy.
But Crook said there still are various financial issues to be worked out, including when the state will issue to school districts money from the next round of federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funds and how much the district will receive.
Parr advised the board the cost for substitutes needed for teachers who have missed work because of illness or orders to quarantine has risen to $50,000.
The board also heard from Stephanie Blundon, the district's director of student services and chair for a committee guiding the re-opening of schools during the pandemic.
After being closed for several weeks, schools were re-opened in January, with most students receiving in-person instruction for two days each week and remote instruction, usually via computer, for two days. The approach is known as the hybrid model of instruction.
The fifth day has been reserved for disinfecting the buildings.
State officials have ordered that high schools may not have in-person instruction while a county's status for COVID-19 cases remains red and must receive remote instruction only.
Blundon noted that is based on the belief that teens are more likely to contract the disease and spread it than younger students because they have more contact with others in the community.
She said as the number of local cases decline, the committee hopes all students can return to schools for four days a week within the next two weeks.
To help prepare staff, students and parents for the week ahead, Brooke school officials have announced whether high schools will have in-person or remote instruction in a given week after learning the county's status as of 5 p.m. on the previous Saturday.
But Blundon noted state officials have ordered that if a county becomes red on a weekday, its high schools should be closed the following day.
Antoinette Perkins, the board's vice president and a retired teacher, said it must be difficult for teachers to change lesson plans, from in-person to remote, with little notice.
Blundon said, "We agree there are challenges for teachers, for (the district's) food services (personnel) and for families."
In a routine report on behalf of the Brooke Primary South school improvement council, Principal Michaelene Mills commented on changes spurred by the pandemic.
She noted transparent dividers have been placed on desks and cafeteria tables to deter spread of the virus while staff and pupils are required to wear masks at all times.
"Our students are phenomenal about wearing their masks," Mills said.
She added that all teachers, including those in physical education, music and art, have found ways to instruct their pupils through live Google Meet sessions.
Mills said at home and in school pupils are participating in the Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser for the American Heart Association and have raised about $1,000 for their projected $3,000 goal.
She said in lieu of the school's Christmas celebration, children and their families were invited to a drive-up meeting with Santa Claus outside the school. She added there are plans for pupils to engage in the usual exchange of Valentines this week.
(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)