MADISON — Fifty seven percent of staff at Madison Local Schools have indicated they would like to receive the COVID-19 vaccine during Phase 1B of the state’s vaccine rollout, superintendent Rob Peterson said at Wednesday night’s school board meeting.
Peterson said he hasn’t been told when or where the vaccine will be made available to staff.
“That situation is very fluid. I’m disseminating information as I receive it. Essentially, they are notifying us about a week in advance of when our staff will get the vaccine,” he told the board. “I still don’t know if our staff will need to go somewhere to get the vaccine or if they’ll be coming here.”
Madison Schools will be partnered with the Mid Ohio Education Service Center for vaccine distribution, but may be also partnered with Drug Mart to get doses, Peterson said.
Peterson also shared the district has begun to operate under revised quarantine guidelines allowed by the state of Ohio. Under these guidelines, a student may continue attending in-person classes after a close contact with a student who tests positive for COVID-19, if certain conditions are met.
For a child to still be allowed to attend school, the exposure must have occurred in a traditional classroom setting or on the bus where both the exposed and infected students were wearing masks.
The new rules also state that exposed students are still required to observe a 14-day quarantine from extracurriculars like sports.
“They can’t avoid the quarantine altogether, but if they meet all these conditions, they can still come to school and they can still ride the bus to school,” Peterson explained.
Peterson said district parents and guardians can choose to have their child opt out of mask breaks, potentially increasing their odds meeting the requirements to continue coming to school after an exposure. The parents and guardians of 55 students indicated their child would be skipping mask breaks through a form on the district’s website.
The board approved numerous items, including a resolution that will allow licensed substitute teachers with a minimum of an associate’s degree or equivalent to work in the district for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year.
“Recent legislation has allowed us to adjust the requirements for substitute teachers. As we’re all aware it’s been very difficult this year to get substitute teachers,” Peterson said. “Hopefully, that will allow for some more substitutes to be able to apply.”
The board also approved the retirement of Victoria Perry, a Library Tech at Mifflin Elementary School.
According to Peterson, Perry has worked at various school buildings during her time with the district, including Madison South Elementary, the old middle school, Madison Comprehensive High School and Mifflin Elementary
“Vicky has worked faithfully in the district for the last 21 years as both a library tech and an aide,” Peterson said. “She is definitely a Ram.”
In addition, the board passed a resolution to notify the Madison Local Education Association and the Ohio Association of Public School Employees that the board is considering a “reduction in force.”
Peterson was not able to elaborate on the number of positions that could be eliminated, but said the move would be necessary in light of the district’s finances. The district is projected to be in deficit spending by fiscal year 2023 (the 2022-2023 school year).
The board also:
Heard an update from Natasha Repp, principal of the Madison Early Childhood Learning Center and Heather Addington, a teacher at the MECLC.
Approved meeting minutes from Dec. 16, Jan. 6 and Jan. 19 sessions.
Approved the appointment of two long-term “on call” substitute teachers, Brooke Hoffman and Reta Zody, for Madison South Elementary School.
Approved the appointment of Barb Thompson as an “on call” substitute aide and Shirley Fanello as an “on call” substitute cafeteria worker.
Approved the termination of Gail Hardy, a cook at the Madison Early Childhood Learning Center, for “violations of the Ohio Revised Code and/or OHio Administrative Code, insubordination, neglect of duty and other acts of misfeasance, malfeasance and/or nonfeasance.”
Approved a resolution from Peterson in favor of School Board Recognition Month.
Met in executive session to consider the employment of a public employee or official; prepare for, conduct or review negotiations or bargaining session with public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment; and to hear grievances brought before the board by the Madison Local Education Association.
Voted to uphold Peterson’s position regarding a grievance brought by the Madison Local Education Association.
According to Peterson, Perry has worked at various school buildings during her time with the district, including Madison South Elementary, the old middle school, Madison Comprehensive High School and Mifflin Elementary.
“Vicky has worked faithfully in the district for the last 21 years as both a library tech and an aide,” Peterson said. “She is definitely a Ram.”
