By Katrina Grant
The Tabernacle Board of Education had its first meeting of the new school year last week. The board recognized several staff members for their years of service. The following members of staff were recognized:
n Gloria Back: School social worker: 35 years of service.
n Frank Thatcher: Special education teacher: 30 years of service.
n Carleen Artusa: Technology assistant: 25 years of service.
n Dale Craig: School secretary: 25 years of service.
n Carol Gibson: Bus driver: 25 years of service.
n Eleanor Meredith: Kindergarten teacher: 25 years of service.
n Candi Scola: Eighth-grade science teacher: 25 years of service.
The school district has also formed an ad hoc committee to deal with harassment, intimidation and bullying. Board member Tina Marie Coolidge is the chairperson. The school district is also implementing a new bullying prevention program. They want community and school member involvement in the program.
“There is a lot the school district has to have in place, and the board is concerned about that,” Superintendent George Rafferty said.
Concussions in students who play sports are also a big issue this year in school districts. Tabernacle school district is implementing new policies to deal with this issue and also wants staff members to be trained in CPR.
With negotiations still going on over the teachers’ contract, some members of the public expressed concerns over union members having signs in their cars or talking to students.
The board expressed that it was a First Amendment right of the individuals to have signs in their cars. The board said that it had conversations with the union and was sure nothing inappropriate was happening concerning the students and that it doesn’t disrupt education by having signs in the cars.
“When you come to school, you don’t leave your rights at the door,” Rafferty said.
“It’s not appropriate to have discussions with children,” Board of Education President Douglas Hess said. “If that happens, we have to hold administration and staff accountable anything inappropriate.”
