BROWNSTOWN
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on added responsibilities for educators this school year.
The Brownstown Central Community School Corp. board of trustees recently approved some personnel matters to help ease the workload of a couple of positions.
With nurse supervisor Joyce McKinney taking on more of an administrative role with her staff, Superintendent Tim Taylor said part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES, Act funding the corporation received will be used to pay the salary of a part-time nurse.
During a recent meeting, the board approved the hiring of Brooke Ebbing to fill that two-year position. President Scott Shade recused himself from the vote since Ebbing is his son’s fiancée, and Trustee Dan Hall was absent.
Ebbing’s hiring will allow McKinney to serve as a point of contact for the Jackson County Health Department and focus on contact tracing and other duties. Taylor gave a special thanks to McKinney for her efforts to establish safety protocols and methods of contact tracing for the corporation.
McKinney will determine the amount of hours and days the Ebbing will work. McKinney has health aides who work under her at the three schools.
The board also approved changing the Brownstown Central Middle School library aide position from part time to full time to meet virtual instruction needs. This school year, students have the option of traditional or virtual instruction because of the pandemic.
Media Director Karen Ault has taken on more responsibility, so Taylor recommended having library assistant Erin Gommel go full time, increasing her weekly hours from 28 to 40. He said that will be considered on a year-to-year basis.
“I think it’s needed this year because of the COVID situation, so we will revisit that each year,” Taylor told trustees.
In another personnel matter, the board approved the town’s appointment of Kylene Steward as its representative on the Brownstown Public Library board of trustees.
Other personnel approved include the resignation of Jessica Sons as middle school permanent substitute teacher, transfers of Jodi Davidson to elementary special needs aide and Hannah Tanksley as high school cheerleading sponsor and leave of absence for Stanley Steinkamp effective Aug. 7 to Oct. 2.
Also approved were the recommendations of Emily Allman as elementary kindergarten aide (28-hour position), Kimberly Booher as eighth grade volleyball coach, Michelle Brock as sixth grade volleyball volunteer assistant coach, Amy Davidson as sixth grade volleyball coach, Jessica Grelle as Seymour bus route driver, Alphia Ihle in the high school kitchen (3½-hour position), Suzzanna Kramer as middle school cheerleading sponsor, Randa Miller as middle school permanent substitute teacher, Glenna Newberry as seventh grade volleyball coach, Colton Patriquin as high school intramural sponsor and Brooklyn Thomas as a high school assistant cheerleading sponsor.