Staff, students get early Christmas gift

Board approves one additional teacher at semester; three more for 2021-22 year

    Staff and students at Chase County Schools got an early Christmas present Tuesday night.
    At the CCS board meeting, Supt. Adam Lambert said he’s calling off classes Dec. 21-22, so Christmas break will began after classes on Friday, Dec. 18.
    Lambert said there is a lot of stress right now for both teachers and students.
    “Stress levels have been increased for both students and teachers as we near the end of 2nd semester,” he said in his report to board members.
    While student absentee numbers are what Lambert says is normal this time of year, COVID is the issue, he said.
    “Having kids out of the building potentially for 14 days is an added stress making sure they are caught up,” he said.
    That stress affects both teachers and students, he said.
    Lambert said teachers have been chipping in everywhere to cover the instructors absent due to COVID. Two teachers were to be tested this week, he said. There are also two teachers and one para out on maternity leave.
    He said the normal substitute teachers they rely on for day-to-day coverage aren’t available because they are covering long-term right now.
    “It’s been a great team effort all the way around,” he said.
    Activities will continue as scheduled, he added. There are high school basketball games on Dec. 19 and 22, and a high school wrestling tournament in Sidney Dec. 19.
    After a lengthy discussion and an 8-1 vote, the board approved the addition of four teachers, one of whom could start 2nd semester in the elementary grades.
    Three additional teachers will be hired for 2021-22—an elementary classroom teacher, a 5-12 math teacher and a 5-12 English teacher.
    An amendment that would have added a fulltime P.E. teacher to the staff failed on a 6-3 vote.
    More on Tuesday’s board meeting will be in next week’s issue.

 

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