Riverside Schools officials reported during the Tuesday evening board of education about contingency planning the district is currently sorting through to examine what students’ daily classroom lives might look like next school year during the coronavirus pandemic.
Superintendent Scott Mann said the district was advised by the Ohio Department of Education to prepare for three potential options to begin the 2020-21 school year – all online schooling; a blended approach of online schooling some days and students being in class other days; and finally, all in-person schooling in the regular classroom. Riverside and districts around the state are still waiting official word regarding which option will be their reality in just several months.
“We’re hoping by the end of June, we’ll have a much better idea about what we’ll actually be doing in the fall,” he said. “But for now, we’ve been encouraged to sort through these different scenarios to see how it would look for our district.
“There are so many things to consider. If we do in-person schooling, we would see at least daily cleanings of classrooms and also hand-sanitizer readily available in every classroom and all around the school building.
“We also have questions regarding students being required to wear masks and how we would handle our busing situation during social distancing requirements. We previously would have up to 70 students on a school bus.”
For the 2019-20 school year, which for Riverside concludes Thursday with a student drop off of materials from 9 a.m. to noon and 3 to 6 p.m., Mann said he couldn’t be more grateful for the way his teaching staff pulled together during the school shutdown for the last months of the year.
“They were able to re-invent education in just two days planning time,” he said. “Our staff dug in and became experts in many remote-learning options. I’m very proud of all their efforts. “
He also expressed appreciation to district bus drivers, cooks and educational aides who rallied to support the distance learning meal program, with food deliveries to students and also to area senior citizens. Thursday also will be the last day for the district’s meal program this spring.
The superintendent discussed the Class of 2020 commencement ceremony, which was moved from Friday evening to Saturday morning because of stormy weather conditions. Pupils and their families attended the graduation in the district’s parking lot, with graduates walking across a fully decorated outdoor stage to receive their diplomas.
“Graduation went as well as it possibly could have, and we’re so happy to give our seniors the best send-off that we could, given the circumstances,” Mann said.
Treasurer Ronnie Fitchpatrick presented the five-year forecast, which shows all year-ending balances in the black. The forecast includes nearly $100,000 that was cut from the district’s budget this school year following the state budget reductions announced earlier this month, which were detailed in the Examiner.
Fitchpatrick estimates another cut in state funding next fiscal year, amounting to between 3 to 5 percent, and then is hoping by fiscal years 2023 and 2024 that state funding will be back to 2019 levels.
He expects to know more in November regarding how the next few years are shaping up, but said fortunately, the districts’ finances remain in good standing.
“We’re in good condition to weather the economic downturn. We have the ability to plan without being forced to react.”
According to the forecast, the district is predicted to end this fiscal year with a balance of $10,174,494. The next two fiscal years show balances of $10,453,742 and $10,667,512 respectively.
Members also approved several action items that will continue the district’s trend of waiving student academic fees, athletic participation fees, athletic transportation fees, and student athletic event admission fees for Riverside pupils for the 2020-21 school year.
“With the times the way they are right now, I think it’s especially important that we can do this for our families,” Board President Dr. Bradley Adams said.
In other action, the board:
• approved spring supplemental contracts to be paid at 50 percent;
• extended the following teaching contracts: five-year — Cynthia Huber, Lucinda Fleming; three-year — Bryce Hodge; two-year — Mollianne Bell, Jessica Egbert, Morgan Herron, Haleigh James, Gavrielle Mann, Amy Grant; and one-year — Emily Curnutte, Katy Ewing, Kassandera Knief;
• extended the following classified contracts at the elementary school: two-year — Rebecca Wheeler, Kristen Burchett, Becky Davidson, Becky Purtee and Nicole Jenkins;
• approve student Andan Short for summer technology help on an as needed basis at a rate of $8.75 per hour, effective as of June 8;
• approved Middle School/High School Principal Kelly Kauffman for up to 15 days as needed in the summer at her current per diem rate; and the following certified staff for extended days of service: Kasandera Knief, band, 15 days; Debbie Gonterman, guidance, five days; and Angel Allen, student service coordinator, 15 days;
• approved the following list of physicians for school bus driver physicals for the 2020-21 school year: Wilson Corporate Health, Wilson Care Inc., Mary Rutan Corporate Health, and Mary Rutan Assoc. Physicians; and
• accepted a$500 donation from Scott Mann for the Doris Wagner Scholarship;
The next meeting is 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, at the school library.
The next meeting is 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, at the school library.