By HOLLY GASKILL
The board for Norwell Community Schools has decided not to hold latchkey services during a recently scheduled e-learning day for the total solar eclipse on April 8.
Administrators told the district board Tuesday that only six respondents said they would use the service among the over 200 surveyed. Comparatively, they estimated that about 30-50 at either school used the service during a typical cancelation.
However, it was also noted that the service on that day would have an increased price.
Ginger Butcher, principal at Lancaster Elementary School, said this price change was decided due to the e-learning day being held asynchronously, meaning without streamed teacher instruction throughout the day, and the average expense of childcare. It had also been discussed at the board’s Feb. 13 meeting to offset the potential for the service to be overwhelmed.
Ultimately, the board unanimously decided they would not maintain Bear and Bobcat Care at LES and Ossian Elementary School. Superintendent Mike Springer recommended the decision, noting that there was still substantial warning despite the e-learning day previously not being on the year’s calendar.
Even so, board member Angie Topp emphasized that the school should make every effort to help find alternative care for the families who responded that they would use the service.
“I appreciate the time and effort in putting together a survey to get a better understanding because I think that’s more helpful than the last conversation that we had,” board member Chad Kline said. “Because (the results) could have gone two totally different directions … This really allowed us to make an informed decision.”
The board also approved an updated policy regarding involvement in board meetings. According to Springer, the board had been operating under the outlined procedure but had not updated the policy. The formal procedure would normally have the board approve a policy change through a first and second reading, but the board approved it at the first reading, given the circumstances.
The policy previously restricted public comment only to a set time during meetings. The policy now reads, “Prior to any agenda item for which the school board will vote or within all discussion items, the presiding officer will invite members of the public in attendance at the meeting to make comments.”
Following the regular agenda, the board participated in an open strategic planning meeting with administrators, teachers and members of the public. The meeting continued conversations regarding the district’s vision statement and the results of the previously presented staff survey. Springer advised he is conducting another survey this week.
Also during the regular agenda, the board:
• Accepted the resignation of Deb Yohma, a former food service employee.
• Approved the employment recommendations of Abigail Rodenbeck as a speech pathologist, Kathleen Messmann as a Norwell Middle School teaching assistant, Mellannie Brandon as an OES teaching assistant, Shelby Schaufelberger as an OES temporary teaching assistant, Dusty Clifton as a Norwell High School assistant baseball coach, Carson Wright as an NHS volunteer baseball assistant coach, MaKayla Study as an NMS assistant swim coach, Richard Utterback as an NHS volunteer assistant swim coach, Erin Hitzfield as an NMS assistant track coach with Melanie Jacob as a volunteer, Garrett Bucher as an NMS volunteer golf assistant coach, and Mari Brock for food service.
• Recognized a $500 teaching grant from the Sailsbery Family Memorial Endowment Fund for Mark Weinert, the district’s Educator of the Year.
holly@news-banner.com
