Sigler: Community can help get kids back in classroom

Some staff also furloughed through end of fully-remote learning period

LEWISTOWN -- The best way to get students back in the classroom is for the community to follow guidelines put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mifflin County School District's Board of Directors agreed during its meeting Thursday night.

Board member Frederick Nickel raised concerns regarding rising failure rates as some students are dealing with truancy issues.

Administration announced recently that truancy was a growing problem this year as students do their school work remotely.

Frederick cited an article from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association that he said indicates schools aren't "super spreaders" of COVID-19.

"They (PSBA) seem to be on board for getting our kids back in schools. We need to do something to curb this failure rate. … I think it's something we need to look long and hard at," he said.

Superintendent James Estep indicated that the plan to get students back in the classroom by Jan. 11 will be dictated by the county's ability to move out of the "substantial risk" category -- which he said it has been in for the past nine weeks.

Board Member Mary Lou Sigler said she best the best way to get students back in the classroom was for the community to do its part to stop the spread of COVID-19.

"It's not the spread in the schools, it's the spread in the community that is part of the problem because our staff are part of the community just as the kids are and if they're getting sick -- if we don't have the staff to run the schools -- we can't run the schools," she said. "People really need to start wearing masks. They need to social distance. They need to follow the guidelines … if you really want your kids back in schools, follow the guidelines."

In a related discussion, the board agreed to approve a memorandum of understanding to extend health benefits for support staff who are currently furloughed due to COVID-19.

Estep said the expenditure is already included in the budget.

The board also took the following action:

¯Approved a resolution indicating that the district will not raise the rate of taxes for the 2021-22 fiscal year by more than the 4.2 percent Act 1 index;

¯Approved Jennifer McCarter, temporary guidance secretary at Mifflin County High School;

¯Approved Alayna Stroup, long-term substitute math teacher at Mifflin County Middle School at a prorated salary of $43,522;

¯Approved the resignation of Peggy Cox as substitute cafeteria worker;

¯Approved Jennifer Cupillari as substitute cafeteria worker;

¯Approved the resignation of Gail Fultz-Brown as substitute cafeteria worker;

¯Approved the resignation of Jessica Walters as substitute cafeteria worker;

¯Approved the termination of an unnamed employee;

¯Approved cafeteria workers to be furloughed from Nov. 30, 2020 to Jan. 8, 2021, or until remote learning is no longer necessary;

¯Approved cafeteria workers to be furloughed and work reduce hours from Nov. 30, 2020 to Jan. 8, 2021, or longer ir remote learning is necessary;

¯Approved custodians to be furloughed Dec. 7, 2020 to Jan. 8, 2021 or longer if remote learning is necessary due to COVID-19;

¯Approved paraprofessionals/HRSs to be furloughed, effective Nov. 30, 2020 to Jan. 8, 2021, or longer if remote learning is necessary;

¯Approved paraprofessionals to be recalled from furlough, effective Dec. 7, 2020;

¯Approved the Mifflin County School District IT department to extend the same level of IT services that are currently provided to The Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology to The Academy's Practical Nursing department;

¯Approved the contracted daily rates comparison 20-21;

¯Approved the NRG to provide a new building automation system controller for RTU-1B for $9,550. The existing BAS controller is failing daily and NRG recommends replacement of this controller. Purchase to be funded from capital reserve account;

¯Approved NRG to provide a new building automation system controller for the hot water and chilled water systems at a cost of $23,800. Purchase to be funded from Capital Reserve Account;

¯Approved Tara Reeder as a long-term substitute science teacher at Mifflin County Middle School at a prorated salary of $48,300;

¯Approved the transfer of Sherry Pecht to 6.75-hour full-time kitchen helper at Mifflin County Junior High School;

¯Approved Wendy Ziegler as 17-hour per week part-time cafe floater at MCMS;

¯Approved Denise Hassinger as 3-hour cafe server/dishwasher at Indian Valley Elementary School;

¯Approved James McCarter as volunteer boys lacrosse coach for the 2020-21 school year;

¯Approved Stephen Whalen as multi-craft maintenance, effective Jan. 4.