NEW MARKET — South Montgomery school staff are receiving stipends for the extra duties caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The one-time stipends — $1,500 for certified teachers, administrators and nurses and $600 for non-certified staff such as teacher’s aides — were approved by the school board Monday.
The district first proposed the additional pay in April, acknowledging the additional planning and time required from staff due to COVID-19 restrictions. Stipends were discussed with the teachers’ union and staff members with certificates or licenses qualified for the higher amount.
A non-certified staff member pointed out the difference in amounts before the board voted.
“If it really wasn’t for the non-certified [staff], I could say that there are a lot of days that our corporation would not have stayed open,” said Sherri Madison, an administrative assistant and treasurer at New Market Elementary.
The stipends are being funded by federal stimulus dollars on the way through the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Fund. Staff should receive the pay within two weeks after the funds are approved.
South Montgomery has received more than $178,000 in ESSER funds so far, with another $2.7 million coming in additional rounds. Administrators formally outlined how the money is being spent, which includes replacing student Chromebooks and hiring temporary teachers to remediate students.
Federal rules for the third round require 20% of the money to be used for providing remediation programs before or after school. The district plans to launch a Summer Jump Start program for incoming first through third graders and a year-round after-school elementary remediation program.
“Is any of this money allowed to be used to fix, repair, replace, do anything about our internet issues that we’re having now?” board member Julie Hess asked.
“Some of it is being used to pay for the added security that we’ve already put in place,” said Anna Roth, director of curriculum, instruction and teacher development.
A cyber attack earlier this year overwhelmed the system with a surge of internet traffic. Along with the additional security measures, a new router was installed.
In other business, the board tapped a Center Grove High School teacher as the new high school assistant principal.
Kyle Owens was hired to replace assistant principal Josh Hagenow, who left the district in March. He begins July 1. Owens has taught engineering and technology at Center Grove since 2019 and previously was a teacher at Speedway High School, where he launched a robotics program. He was selected for the Southmont position by a seven-member committee of high school staff members.
His grandfather, Jim Zielinski, was a longtime principal at New Market Elementary and several of Owens’ relatives graduated from Southmont.
“I have a lot of respect for the Southmont family and I’m just really excited to have the opportunity to contribute to all the great things that are already happening here,” Owens said.
Southmont principal Jesse Burgess said Owens’ family connections “will help him understand the cultures and traditions here at Southmont.”
In other personnel matters, the board:
• Accepted the resignations of Cindy Bannon, high school business teacher, and Cathie Abston, New Market special education teacher, effective at the end of the school year.
• Approved the retirement of Scott Swisher, junior high PE teacher, effective June 30, 2022.
