About The Advance. (Vidalia, Ga.) 2003-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 29, 2021)
Stye Aiiuance The ADVANCE, September 29, 2021/Page 2A BACK TO SCHOOL — Montgomery County teacher Melissa Barrow, center, works with students Harley and Jade Kight in a face-to-face class last week, The school system re sumed in-seat classes on September 20 following a two-week period of virtual learning due to COVID's impact on the system, MoCo continued from page 1A book like the rest of the student population. The Randolphs said the Special Education students were denied access to daily, on- campus sessions due to COVID protocols. The parents said they did not understand this limitation once they discovered that the school remained pop ulated by staff and staff’s children during this pause in normal learning. Stacie Randolph not ed, “It is not as if these (two) weeks have left the halls of Montgom ery County Elementary empty. It only took a short scroll through social media to discover that many of the teachers’ children were roaming the hallways and gathering together to play and work on schoolwork. If the situation was unsafe and unacceptable for the SPED students, why was it safe and acceptable for these children?” Mrs. Randolph ex plained her understand ing that the recent pause in face-to-face instruction came because of a staff shortage due to absences, as she cited the school’s press release regarding the virtual learning period. It stated, “Currently, the number of staff who have tested positive or who are in quarantine due to expo sure has impacted our abil ity to continue in-person learning.” She continued to share her perspective on the pause of in-seat instruction in regard to continuation of athletic practices and events. “This reality [of reasoning behind the tran sition to virtual learning] was why it made sense that the athletic department would continue as nor mal for these two weeks,” she told the Board. “We are not against athletics; our family attends many football games and other events. What I am against is the double standard: the ability for large masses of coaches and players be ing able to congregate and practice, but children who desperately need in-person learning for the successful foundation of their educa tion cannot gather.” The two-week period also seems a miniscule amount of time to those without special needs children, according to Randolph, who explained she understood that most would think that this short period would not seem like a big issue to most. “To you all, this probably seems mi nor because of the time only spanning two weeks; however, allow me to il lustrate the difference that two weeks may make to these children. My (usually nonverbal) daughter spoke to her teacher for the first time in her academic ex perience on September 1, the Wednesday before the decision was made for vir tual learning. On this past Wednesday, September 15, my daughter refused to speak while doing her sight words during her half day,” she told Board members. “This is a direct result from the lack of consistency and normalcy in environment.” Mrs. Randolph con tinued, “These students, specifically the ones whose program you limited, are in their prime foundation of learning; numerous Special Education teaching philos ophies stress that students ages 3 to 8 are dependent upon structure and consis tency,” she said. “You not only changed the structure of their day, but by mak ing them only attend two half-days of school a week, you stripped them of con sistency. They could not get into a routine because there was no sense of nor malcy in their days.” The pair concluded their statements to the Board by sharing the frustration that they felt from the perceived lack of concern for the situa tion from the leadership in the school. They told the Board that many involved in making the decision had been contacted but did not follow up or respond. Board Chairman Jim Paul Poole expressed his apologies to the Ran dolphs. “We appreciate you coming and speaking to us tonight, Mr. and Mrs. Randolph. We encourage you to know that those things will be reviewed, and if we are in violation, I don’t think there is any one here that would be opposed to correcting any situation that could be a detriment to our kids.” Poole continued, “We have all been faced with things that stay out of our control. Sadly, it usually hurts some and has maybe hurt everyone. We want to continue to try to give our kids the best education possible - and that’s all kids. Thank you again for coming to speak with us.” Action Items The Board unanimous ly approved the purchase of the home behind the Montgomery County Mid dle/High School, which was owned by Michael and Lauren Stanley, for $127,500. The property on Dobbins Street is now the third residential property surrounding the school campus that is owned by the school administration. Two other properties are currently being rented out by the School to residential tenants. The proposed millage rate of 15 mills was ap proved unanimously by the Board and was adopted into action by the Mont gomery County Commis sion on September 21. This millage rate is the same rate as last year, as the Board explained that it had dis covered this rate brought the most federal funding to the school. While this rate did not increase, indi vidual property taxes will increase because of the rise in property values in the latest assessment. The federal policy GARHB Paid Parental Leave was unanimously approved by the Board. This policy gives new par ents - either by birth, fos ter child placement, or adoption completion - up to 120 hours of paid leave to settle into this new role in life. Board members ap proved the contribution of $12,000 to the district Future Farmers of Ameri ca (FFA) and Agriculture program’s renovation of the barn on campus. A fun draising effort had already brought in $12,000, but an additional $12,000 was needed for concrete work. The previous air con ditioning unit replacement contract with Rivers Air Conditioning & Electric was rescinded by the Board because of the company’s inability to complete the work in a timely period. Interim Superintendent Mark Davidson explained, “I talked to Rivers and they are very backed up in work orders. They understand and respect our decision to seek other options, and there are no hard feelings in the situation.” The Board also ap proved the replacement of the elementary school’s 15-ton HVAC unit in the lunchroom by Alexander Brothers HVAC at a cost of $20,503. Several mini-split units in the elementary school will be replaced by Airtech, which will cost $4,852. The Board also ap proved the purchase of 100 yards of mulch to cover a portion of the playground. This mulch will be pro vided by Thompson Hard wood, which had the low est bid of $1,762. Personnel Changes Nesbeth Blaxton was approved to return to the Financial Director posi tion at 49% following her previous retirement in July. Davidson explained that Blaxton’s role would be to continue to train and aid current Payable/Adminis- trative Assistant Mylinda Moore in financial work. High school students Gage Martin and Austin Glisson were hired for cus todial, maintenance, and grounds keeping services as a part of their work- based learning program. Kimberly Purvis’s res ignation from her role as a paraprofessional at the ele mentary school was unani mously approved. Current high school Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor Sarah Larson’s resignation was accepted on a 4-1 vote, with Chairman Jim Paul Poole voting against this acceptance. Return to School Report Davidson shared that he had completed a walk through of all schools upon the return to in-seat learning on September 20 and the school population seemed pleased to return. “I talked to several stu dents in the high school, and they explained that they would much rather participate in face-to-face learning — so, I am glad we are able to provide that,” he explained. Davidson said, “We would like to thank the parents and guardians for their support and under standing while we were vir tual. We realize that being out of school is tough for parents, as well as students. We know our students need face-to-face instruc tion, and we sincerely hope and pray that they are able to stay in school for the re mainder of the school year. Other News Davidson also in formed the Board and at tendees that 39 students had been accepted into the school’s permanent virtual learning plan for the year. According to Davidson, these students are in regu lar contact with program overseer Rhonda David son, and are receiving ef fective instruction, just as the in-seat students are. Upon review of the fi nancial report provided by Moore, Chairman Poole commented on the finan cial status of the school, stating, “It looks like we are in very good financial status.” Interviews for the Su perintendent position have continued to be conduct ed; the district plans to have a permanent superin tendent in place by the end of the current semester. Copies now available From the PORCH A collection of personal essays from author Amber Nagle’s weekly column published in The Advance “Nagle writes with Southern flavor and charm, capturing the rhythms of her life with grace ancl artistry. ” - Audrey Andersen Get your copy at ntt
