School Board Meets
Sept 13 2021
Boardster Susan Bodkins, Survivor
Before our coverage of the Sept 13th Board
meeting, we have a first hand COVID note. Boardster Susan
Bodkins is a survivor of the deadly virus. Bodkins told us
she had not had even one of the shots and for 48 hours, she
was in bed and unable to move. Zero energy nor strength. She
wound up at the hospital twice during the worst of her
illness. How sick was she? She lost 14 pounds and felt she
was going to die.
Now recovering from the disease, things ain't the same. Food and drinks she used to enjoy, not now. Bodkins is still experiencing breathing problems.
She made it but not without a cost.
Now recovering from the disease, things ain't the same. Food and drinks she used to enjoy, not now. Bodkins is still experiencing breathing problems.
She made it but not without a cost.
We've got a nice change
to mention. An observation on Boardster Chair Dave Mullins
who was on good behavior for this gathering. He might not
have been feeling well or something. Maybe beside himself
but for sure, Mr Poop Butt didn't show himself this time
around.
OK now for some nuggets from the poorly attended public meeting.
Money wise, tax collections are down $44,000 from this same time last year. Before you start taking up a collection for the system, keep in mind, the Pentagon is a cash cow. COVID dollars are pouring in. Millions are coming in! They also got another $191,000 returned from the COPS grant.
Cheryl White has been quiet during the last many meetings. Not so this time. White zeroed in on vocational opportunities. She was most curious about not having automotive repair classes at CHS. Superintendent Paxton: Welding class is without a teacher until Nicholas County releases Mr Walker from their county.... Automotive classes would be a nice addition but they are costly to set up and take a lot of space too.
Long time teacher and administrator Jamela Krajeski bailed out and is heading to the Gold Dome in Charleston. Her last county assignment was as Principal at H E White Grade School
Also leaving the system is Karen Knopp who taught at Big Otter . Ms Knopp is joining her husband in retirement land over in Roane County. Don't expect that to last too long. Husband Greg is back in education on a grant funded program and a similar set up may be coming for the wifey.
Krajeski's replacement at H E White is Tammy Varney who is fully certified and lives in that area.
H E White's Dylan Vaughan is leaving his 4th grade position at H E White and heading North to Big Otter. The musical chairs continues with retired teacher Addie Cole coming back into service at H E White Elem.
Teachers are in short supply, that's a given. That's easy to understand considering low wages and high stress. The other problem is the devaluation of a teacher. Instead of being held in high regards and keeping professional standards, those days are all gone. Many teachers of old spent years earning higher college degrees to make them even a better teacher.
Today, about anybody that doesn't pick their nose in public, can be hired for the classroom. No four year college degree is necessary. Instead of years in college to learn the needed skills to handle the wittle rug rats, just take an online 3 question course and PooF! you're a teacher or at least a substitute teacher to get you in the door.
Ever hear of a "restricted" substitute teacher? Apparently the Board hadn't either. According to Joe Paxton, a restricted substitute has just an associate degree (maybe underwater basket weaving for instance) and those subs can only work 10 days in a row in the same classroom. Kristen Stone was hired as one of those kinds of subs.
The Pentagon received yet another grant, this one for $55K, to cover the cost of administrating all the COVID shots and testing and record keeping.
Boardster Cheryl White spoke up on the lack of teachers and questioned why there is a shortage. From Paxton: it's a tough year... some jobs are not filled... there's also a shortage of bus drivers ... they have been calling around to colleges but with little luck.. turns out there are fewer people getting into college education classes ... we can use retired teachers but many of those folks don't want to be around COVID laden schools... and finally, with few college education graduates, those lucky few can just about pick any place they want to work. Translation: They ain't comin here.
Item 29 on the agenda was updating the CHS course credit and class rank policy. Sounds like the number of credits needed to graduate is being changed.
And finally for this article, it's hard to believe but, it sounds like a bunch of the kids doing the virtual education route, those yard apes are not hanging around for classes. Who would have guessed, given the chance to sit in front of a puter and learn, our kids are actually out running around, riding four wheelers, and otherwise, screwing off.
The Board is working on a new attendance policy for virtual learning kids. Paxton said they are coming up with a reliable way to make sure kids are actually sitting in front of their screens and doing school work. Joe Paxton said he doesn't want the new policy to be punitive, he just wants those students to learn as if they were in a classroom. Expect a vote on that new and improved policy in the near future.
It's not often that there's ANY discussion during a Board of Ed meeting. Everything is decided before the public meeting, cut and dry. This meeting was different. Boardsters asked questions. There was discussion. It was a nice change.
AW
OK now for some nuggets from the poorly attended public meeting.
Money wise, tax collections are down $44,000 from this same time last year. Before you start taking up a collection for the system, keep in mind, the Pentagon is a cash cow. COVID dollars are pouring in. Millions are coming in! They also got another $191,000 returned from the COPS grant.
Cheryl White has been quiet during the last many meetings. Not so this time. White zeroed in on vocational opportunities. She was most curious about not having automotive repair classes at CHS. Superintendent Paxton: Welding class is without a teacher until Nicholas County releases Mr Walker from their county.... Automotive classes would be a nice addition but they are costly to set up and take a lot of space too.
Long time teacher and administrator Jamela Krajeski bailed out and is heading to the Gold Dome in Charleston. Her last county assignment was as Principal at H E White Grade School
Also leaving the system is Karen Knopp who taught at Big Otter . Ms Knopp is joining her husband in retirement land over in Roane County. Don't expect that to last too long. Husband Greg is back in education on a grant funded program and a similar set up may be coming for the wifey.
Krajeski's replacement at H E White is Tammy Varney who is fully certified and lives in that area.
H E White's Dylan Vaughan is leaving his 4th grade position at H E White and heading North to Big Otter. The musical chairs continues with retired teacher Addie Cole coming back into service at H E White Elem.
Teachers are in short supply, that's a given. That's easy to understand considering low wages and high stress. The other problem is the devaluation of a teacher. Instead of being held in high regards and keeping professional standards, those days are all gone. Many teachers of old spent years earning higher college degrees to make them even a better teacher.
Today, about anybody that doesn't pick their nose in public, can be hired for the classroom. No four year college degree is necessary. Instead of years in college to learn the needed skills to handle the wittle rug rats, just take an online 3 question course and PooF! you're a teacher or at least a substitute teacher to get you in the door.
Ever hear of a "restricted" substitute teacher? Apparently the Board hadn't either. According to Joe Paxton, a restricted substitute has just an associate degree (maybe underwater basket weaving for instance) and those subs can only work 10 days in a row in the same classroom. Kristen Stone was hired as one of those kinds of subs.
The Pentagon received yet another grant, this one for $55K, to cover the cost of administrating all the COVID shots and testing and record keeping.
Boardster Cheryl White spoke up on the lack of teachers and questioned why there is a shortage. From Paxton: it's a tough year... some jobs are not filled... there's also a shortage of bus drivers ... they have been calling around to colleges but with little luck.. turns out there are fewer people getting into college education classes ... we can use retired teachers but many of those folks don't want to be around COVID laden schools... and finally, with few college education graduates, those lucky few can just about pick any place they want to work. Translation: They ain't comin here.
Item 29 on the agenda was updating the CHS course credit and class rank policy. Sounds like the number of credits needed to graduate is being changed.
And finally for this article, it's hard to believe but, it sounds like a bunch of the kids doing the virtual education route, those yard apes are not hanging around for classes. Who would have guessed, given the chance to sit in front of a puter and learn, our kids are actually out running around, riding four wheelers, and otherwise, screwing off.
The Board is working on a new attendance policy for virtual learning kids. Paxton said they are coming up with a reliable way to make sure kids are actually sitting in front of their screens and doing school work. Joe Paxton said he doesn't want the new policy to be punitive, he just wants those students to learn as if they were in a classroom. Expect a vote on that new and improved policy in the near future.
It's not often that there's ANY discussion during a Board of Ed meeting. Everything is decided before the public meeting, cut and dry. This meeting was different. Boardsters asked questions. There was discussion. It was a nice change.
AW