With the decision made to open school with classes taught virtually only until November, Weatherly Area School Board also made the decision last week that support staff will not be needed until in-person classes resume.

Twenty-two support staff, and two other school employees, will be furloughed starting Sept. 5.

It is hoped in-person instruction will begin on Nov. 9, at the start of the second marking period, at which time the staff would be brought back.

Meetings are also ongoing with Rohrer Bus Company over the plans for transportation this fall.

A lower cost agreement is being worked out due to lighter bus use. To that end, a limited number of bus and van drivers were approved to work the first marking period.

Other matters

In other business, the board approved the following items:

• Approved the retirement of Marion Miller, full-time paraprofessional position.

• Connie Derr, part-time paraprofessional, and Cathy Lafey, part-time business office and transportation secretary, resigned. The school board offered thanks to them all for their years of service.

• Selected Coleen Genovese as the new supervisor of special programs. She replaces Dr. Catherine Nelson, and will start work once she is released from her current position. She will start at a prorated salary of $85,000.

• Twenty-three sets of policy revisions were approved. New handbooks and a revised school calendar were also approved. Superintendent Teresa Young noted that with the shortened school days once in-person teaching resumes, “I’m not going to be calling delays.”

• A memorandum of agreement between the Weatherly Educational Association and the school district regarding professional development split the board, earning yes votes from Matt vonFrisch, Shay McGee, William Knepper and Chad Obert, and no votes from Tom Connors, April Walters and O’Donnell. Girard Fewins was absent. Gerard Grega was not on the call to vote.

• Construction work is finishing up. The school board also approved a change, adding a larger door at the back of the Elementary/Middle School building, at a cost of $13,600.

• A two-year agreement to retain the law firm of Christopher Slusser for the school district was unanimously approved.

• It was agreed to send all delinquent lunch accounts, with a balance of over $30, to a collection agency.