LINDEN — Secondary students at North Montgomery returned to full in-person instruction Monday following more than six months of altered schedules due to coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns.
Coinciding with the district’s regular September meeting, principals Steve Renzino from North Montgomery Middle School and Michael Cox from North Montgomery High School said the first day back at full capacity went well.
Each took the time to explain what the first day was like.
“Today felt a little bit like the first day of school again,” Renzino said. “There were 400-plus kids in the building. It was nice to see the kids excited about it.
“I think the most challenging part of the day was getting everybody through the lunch line in a timely manner and in a 30-minute window. But they did it. Our cafe crews are awesome and everything’s going to get better and smoother.”
Cox said, “It was a smooth day as far as the function of the day; there’s some adjustments to be made, for sure. We work on the social-emotional piece so much because we know our kids needed it, our teachers too. So, when we came back, we kind of started to do like an advisor — we create that small family. And so, we kind of have like a small Blue family and a small Orange family. And at the (beginning) of the day, there was some rivalry there.
“That’s the next adjustment piece I think — how can we meld and get the whole family back together,” Cox asked. “I just have to thank our teachers so much. They just continue to go at it and look for constructive ways to deal with frustrations that they have. It’s been a tremendous task. Very happy with that.
In other business, the board:
• Opened and closed two public hearings concerning the 2020-21 Teachers’ Agreement and the 2020-21 budget. Both were subsequently approved.
• Approved the hire, transfer, termination, resignation and retirement of multiple employees.
Resignations: Teri Reamer, cafeteria monitor, Pleasant Hill; Bryanna Osborne, Exception Learners aide, NMHS; Isaac Hook, CTE instructor, NMHS; and Brenda Randall, receptionist/secretary, NMMS.
Transfers: Kelli Johnson, instructional aide to second-grade teacher, Pleasant Hill; Brandi Tapia, food service to kitchen supervisor, Sommer; Joy Jarvis, instructional coach to fourth-grade teacher, Sugar Creek; Linda Lighthart, bus driver to substitute bus driver; and Monica Bahlool, substitute bus driver to bus driver.
Hires: Erica Barclay, food service, Sommer; Shyann Selleck, custodian, NMMS; Grace Suitors, custodian, NMMS; Mae Dees, custodian, NMMS; and Brooke Martin, cafeteria monitor, Pleasant Hill.
ECA: Gavin Patrick, football volunteer, NMHS; Baydin Hall, boys’ soccer volunteer, NMHS; Bill Warren, wrestling volunteer, NMHS; Kevin Crull, wrestling volunteer, NMHS; Bryce McCoy, varsity wrestling coach, NMHS; Lincoln Kyle, assistant varsity wrestling coach, NMHS; Chad Arnold, boys’ varsity basketball coach, NMHS; Tom Lutz, assistant varsity boys’ basketball coach, NMHS; Marcus Granger, assistant varsity boys’ basketball coach, NMHS; Clayton Randolph, assistant varsity boys’ basketball coach, NMHS; Brandon Hutson, assistant varsity boys’ basketball coach, NMHS; Mike Melvin, fall musical/play director, NMHS; Dan Martin, fall musical/play assistant, NMHS; Andy Simpkins, musical director (orchestra), instrumental bands director, marching band director, NMHS; Sarah Kavanagh, fall and spring vocal director, musical/play assistant director, NMHS; DeDe Groves, assistant varsity girls’ swimming coach, NMHS; A.J. Rice, assistant varsity boys’ swimming coach, NMHS; Erin Yeager, varsity girls’ swimming coach, NMHS; Courtney France, gymnastics coach, NMHS; and Megan Birk, musical/play director, NMMS.
