Pam Dudding
Contributing writer
In today’s society, often due to parental work situations, parents agree that teachers sometimes spend more time with their students than their own parents.
History has a way of repeating itself. Many students have at least one teacher that has impacted the major life decisions they make.
The December school board meeting was held on Tuesday, December 4, and the following were present: Superintendent Jeanette Warwick, Chairman and Representative for Craig City District Pay Myers, Co-Chair and Representative for Craigs Creek Susan Crenshaw, Simmonsville District Gina Smith, New Castle George Foster and Potts Mountain District Aaron Calfee.
Teachers have a very important job, which is to teach their students a certain curriculum. Sometimes there isn’t enough money in the County or school budget to pay them what the Board deems they are worth.
“I wish there were a way to get more money for our teachers, as they are not only important to our kids, but to us as parents as well,” a parent of two said. “They play a major role in our kids’ lives, take time to study themselves and then to teach our kids. There is no measure to their worth.”
The Craig County Education Association (CCEA) was represented by Donna Deplazes, a high school math teacher, requesting a consideration of two possible changes to the ten-month employee policy on personal and sick leave.
Their initial proposal was that there be no specification between sick and personal leave.
“We are requesting that ten-month employees be given the current 12 days at the beginning of each school year and be able to use them as they see fit,” explained Deplazes. “As adults, we should be able to manage these days appropriately and understand the consequences of leave without pay if the days are depleted before the end of the school year.”
They also requested that any used time, as sick leave only, be rolled over.
Deplazes added that the CCEA would like for the Board to recognize the experience level of ten-month employees in a method similar to 11 and 12-month employees.
She shared that regardless of how many years a teacher had worked at CCPS, they received 12 days per year.
“These employees earn annual leave at a rate based on their years of experience. We are asking the Board to increase the number of leave days for ten-month employees in a comparable way.”
Deplazes also shared a table of years of experience with the number of days per year they were requesting to have considered. They were: zero to four years – 12 days per years off, five to nine years – 13 days, ten to 14 years – 14 days, 15 to 19 years – 15 days and 20 plus years – 16 days. “For every five years of service, add a day off as a benefit, giving the teachers recognition for having more years of experience,” said Deplazes who handed out a copy of her agenda to each Board member.
Superintendent Jeanette Warwick reported many Board members, Pat Myers, Susan Crenshaw, Gina Smith, Diana Bayne, Sonja Switzer along with herself, attended the Annual 2018 Virginia School Board Association Conference in Williamsburg from November 14 to the 16th.
“I found it to be one of the best conferences with very good keynote speakers,” Warwick said.
Crenshaw, the Craigs Creek District Representative, loved it, saying: “I went to Educational Law and the Courts. They talked about the current law changes in Special Education, and it was very interesting.”
Gina Smith, representing Simmonsville, shared that she appreciated being able to break out into individual sessions so that each Board member could select their area of interest. “For me, it was the budget and understanding how it is laid out. Being a new Board Member was helpful.”
“I truly enjoyed the speaker Coach Ken Carter,” Pat Myers, Chairman and Representative for Craigs City District, shared. “If you haven’t seen the movie, the library has ordered it and you can rent it. He was one phenomenal speaker. I can’t believe a coach would lock a basketball team out of the gym.”
Superintendent Warwick added a big thanks to everyone who participated in the Annual Christmas Parade this year, showing pictures of all the things they did to make it happen.
“A concern for us was, how in the world were we going to make a Santa hat big enough to fit a school bus,” Warwick said.
Decorating crew, participants, helpers in the bus, the ones who wore the animal suits and all others were given thanks. “It was great,” Warwick added. “We all had a great time and thanks again to everyone for participating.”
The next School Board meeting will be held on the second Tuesday in January. The start time will be 6:30 p.m., however, the scheduled walkthrough will be at 5:30 p.m. for the School Board members.
