Your Hometown News Source
Your Hometown News Source
POMEROY-School District Business Manager Kelly McKeirnan reported that the Pomeroy School District will not need to reduce staff as many other school districts are being forced to do and will be able to give a 1.6% salary increase to the staff, as recommended by the State at the board meeting June 29. Also, in order to accommodate the Kindergarten class and distancing requirements, an additional Kindergarten teacher may have to be hired for the 2020-2021 school year. However, as Gwinn stated, the Kindergarten program is well funded by the State, so it should not be a burden for the school district.
At a previous meeting, McKeirnan stated that the money the school district saved by not paying spring coaches’ salaries in full would be distributed back to those teams through purchases to benefit the teams. Chairman of the Board, Kyle Pearson, asked for an update on how those funds have been used. McKeirnan stated that two new volleyball nets were purchased, which was a major purchase. Gwinn added that other expenditures were those recommended by the athletic directors, which did include purchasing new clay bricks for the softball and baseball pitching mounds to prevent erosion. The remaining money was distributed within each program by Athletic Director Nettie Severs.
Resolution 295, Interfund Transfer, was approved by the school board, which authorizes a transfer of $15,000 from the General Fund to the Capital Projects Fund. The transfer is a yearly one that will eventually be used to resurface the track.
Gwinn stated that there have been some reports that there will be a loss of some students for next year. Several students have stated plans for moving out of the district, and others will be choosing to participate in on-line schools. Gwinn plans to send out a survey to parents to ascertain their concerns about students returning to school in the fall. She stated that they will still budget for a total enrollment of 290.
For the past several years, a previous federal requirement that all teachers be “highly-qualified” for each class they teach no longer exists. However, any teacher that is currently teaching a class that is not covered under their state certification, must have school board approval. The “Out of Field Teaching” was approved for Nettie Severs, teaching Geometry, Pre-Algebra and Integrated Math; for Fred Knebel for Weights; and Kristina Knebel, recently hired, for World Language, Advanced Biology and Biology.
New recommendations for hire were approved by the school board for Gena Severson for Family Consumer Science, and Lora Sliter, as a one-to-one second grade paraprofessional position. Severson is not currently certified to teach, but has a Bachelor’s Degree, and is currently enrolled in a Family and Consumer Science program. She will be working under a conditional certification until she has completed the certification requirements. She was recommended by Amy Miller, High School Principal, after an informal interview, and was the only applicant for the position. Sliter was recommended by Gwen Schwemmer and Fred Knebel for the paraprofessional position.
During the spring shutdown, High School Principal Amy Miller said “quite a few students did improve their grades by completing the required amount of work, but some completely blew it off.” Three seniors received incompletes and did not receive their diplomas. They have been given packets of assignments to complete by August 31, 2020. Returning students who received incompletes also have the August 31 deadline, but if not met will be required to stay after school each day until the work is complete. All parents were informed of the situation by email, text or telephone call. Miller also reported that all chromebooks have been returned to the school and will be thoroughly cleaned before school starts in the fall. The high school staff will take a look at scheduling changes that will be needed when reopening the school under COVID-19 restrictions.
Acting Elementary Principal Rachel Gwinn, reported that they will be having an “Extended School Year” program for two weeks in August for students who are on Individualized Education Plans (IEP). Gwen Schwemmer will be teaching those students. The elementary school will also have a Speech Pathologist on board, who will also work during the summer.
Gwinn also reported that participation in the distance learning program for the spring was very good in the beginning, but waned after a while. Some students had not shown improvement in some areas for the standards-based grading assessment, and others did not do enough work to be able to adequately be assessed. She stated that if the school district is required to do distance learning in the next school year, teachers will remain on campus to be available to students and parents, and any students that require quarantining will continue learning through the distance learning plan.
After having received a copy of the Updated Policy/Procedure 3207-Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying at the May meeting, the board approved the policy as it stands. There was no huge change that was needed, only a designation of someone to be in charge of maintaining compliance, who is Superintendent Rachel Gwinn.
The next meeting of the Pomeroy School District Board of Directors will be July 27, 2020, with a Budget Hearing beginning at 6:30 p.m., and the regular meeting at 7 p.m., in the Shepherd Room of the Elementary School.
