By Ashley McCarty
The Adams County Ohio Valley Board of Education met virtually on Jan. 25 to announce they will be refinancing their facility and temporary changes to substitute teacher qualifications.
A motion by board member Judy Campbell to approve the agenda as presented was seconded by board member David Riley, the board agreed.
A motion by board member Gay Lynn Shipley to approve the minutes of the Dec. 21, 2020 regular meeting and the minutes of the Jan. 7, 2021 organizational meeting was seconded by board member Rick Davis, the board agreed.
Peebles High School Language Arts Teacher Casey Reed was present to share some of the adaptations she’s employed in her instruction and remote learning. She touched on the blended learning technique with Chromebooks in the classroom, how she utilized Google Classroom for her remote students and how COVID-19 has affected the classroom.
“And then — trying to put together a yearbook, which is an interesting task in itself when a lot of your photos have students with masks on, unless they’re playing a sport. So, those are the challenges,” said Reed.
Board President Charlie Bess said she has been impressed with how everyone is finding pathways around the issue.
“I have to say, yearbook is one that I know has to be extremely taxing, because as you said, it’s going to be difficult to get enough shots without masks on to get in the yearbook. Of course, you’ll want some in to remember, but you want some good images, too,” said Bess.
Reed said with sports it makes it easier that both players and cheerleaders don’t have to wear masks while competing.
“That helps in terms of photographs. Of course, with the school pictures, each individual student went up to the stage and the photographer had them take their mask off, they took their picture, and then they put their mask on before leaving. So, we’ve got those, as well,” said Reed.
In the classroom, students have masks on as well as the teachers.
“Like you said, Charlie, we’re going to look back one of these days and say ‘oh yeah, that was the COVID-19 year.’ It’s just something we can’t get around. My staff, they make the entire yearbook themselves, so we have to make some decisions. Last spring when we didn’t have softball, baseball, and track — you don’t want to leave those athletes out, especially if that’s the only sport that they do. But, what photos do you put in there if the sport didn’t happen? We just make adjustments, that’s all you can do,” said Reed.
Shipley asked Reed if there was anything she’s learned about her students through the pandemic that’s been a positive.
“There were a lot of dilemmas. Should we come back face-to-face? I think if you would ask kids they prefer to be back face to face if they feel safe. So, it’s just a constant reminding ourselves of what’s most important, and kind of keeping that at the forefront. Two, I think a lot of it has to do with administration. Do they put education first? Peebles High School Principal Steve Appelman is just an outstanding leader in our building in terms of keeping the kids safe and keeping learning in the forefront. But then, just also the teacher in the classroom. Yes, we have to be a part, yes, we have to wear a mask, yes, we might be missing this kid that day, and this kid the next, but we’re ultimately here to learn. So, you just keep the train moving and hopefully they will learn that’s what life is; ups and downs, but don’t lose sight of your goal,” said Reed.
In the Treasurer’s Report, Treasurer Brian Switzer reported the monthly financial report was on track.
Switzer also reported that the IRS has changed the mileage rate in 2021. It has been reduced from 57.5 cents to 56 cents for those employees who the district reimburses mileage to.
“Just like when you have a home mortgage that you take out, and interest rates change during the business climate and you refinance your house to save money, the same possibility now exists for the school. Since 2007 when the schools took out a mortgage to build the elementary schools, interest rates have fallen, so I’m asking the board to grant the resolution so that I can refinance that debt. It will save the taxpayers of the county significant money on interest that we have to pay on that debt. In order to accomplish that, you have to pass this resolution and the board has to hire two specialists to assist in this measure,” said Switzer.
An article will be crafted for the public once the specific details are obtained.
“Last year when the government passed what we call ‘CARES Act One,’ everything stops Dec. 31 in the middle of our school year. This was what we’re using to pay our sanitary engineers, the extra help we use in the buildings to help clean, we bought Plexiglas shields and we bought misting machines. [Former] President Trump, before he left, signed an extension to this Act so we have to have an agreement with our unions then to continue the leave portion of this Act which allowed up to 10 days or 80 hours leave for somebody has COVID-19 or has been placed in quarantine because of COVID-19. One is for Ohio Association of Public School Employees and one for Ohio Valley Education Association to extend that to the end of our school year June 25,” said Switzer.
The resolutions regarding the refinancing and the two Memorandum of Understanding for OAPSE and OVEA were passed.
Superintendent Rich Seas also recognized the board for Board Recognition Month.
“We mentioned earlier there was an issue with our substitutes. House Bill 409 regarding licensure, it says, ‘allows an individual to be employed as a substitute teacher according to the district’s own education requirements and standard licensure minimum qualifications otherwise required in current law,’” said Seas.
Personnel Director Greg Grooms said that last October when he met with Rep. Brad Wenstrup, he explained that something needed to be done to help school districts with substitutes.
“We’re having problems finding enough people willing to step out there during really tough times along with our teachers, all of our employees and subs. One of the things I said was that we need to look to lower the standard a little bit to get some subs in here, maybe down to an Associate Degree. Our neighboring state, Kentucky, does so at this time. Finally, we get some legislation out here that’s going to allow us, allow you, Mr. Seas and the board to make that decision if we want to do so only for the 2021 school year,” said Grooms.
This would be a temporary licensure and would end in June after school is out.
“We had a lengthy discussion about it, and we believe that at this time maybe we could move forward with allowing people with an Associate Degree to fill in as substitutes for the remainder of the 2021 school year. It would definitely help, we’re in great need. We have a lot of aides right now in our district that are subbing and they have an Associates Degree. So, this will also open up for some of our aides to also sub in the classroom,” said Grooms.
The district will recognize an Associate’s Degree or equivalent hours for a person to be a substitute teacher for the fiscal year 2021 school year.
“We know what’s most important is to put a certified teacher in there. We’re just at a point right now where we’re talking about, you know, this weekend 10/12 people being tested, trying to be able to put some bodies in the rooms. This by no means takes away from the teaching profession. What we’re trying to do is trying to accomplish the task of keeping these kids in school. I think we’re all tired of COVID-19 and wish it would go away, but it’s not going away, and it’s important that we try to get the kids in school,” said Seas.
Grooms extended his gratitude to district teachers for allowing them to use aides to fill in on classrooms.
“Our teachers wanted to continue to do distant learning, and they allowed us to put some aides in there to allow them to continue. Our teachers are really stepping up — no, our entire staff is really working together to make this all happen. Like Mr. Seas said, no one can really take the place of a teacher, but if we can get these people out there, make it available for our kids and keep the classrooms open and keep teachers teaching remotely or however it may be, it’s a good thing for us for the rest of this school year,” said Grooms.
Regarding vaccination, Seas reported that the district is currently in the process of signing up their staff.
“We’re trying to keep people safe,” said Seas.
A motion by Riley to approve the renewal of AEP utility easements was seconded by Shipley, the board agreed.
A motion by Campbell to adjourn was seconded by Riley, the board agreed.
Meeting minutes will be approved by the board at the next meeting, subject to revisions.
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