Because COVID-19 cases are rising again locally, the Weatherly Area School District revised its plan for in-person learning in the Weatherly buildings. Instead of a start for grades seven to 12 this past Monday, only seventh- and eighth-graders were to start this week. Teaching will be from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with synchronous learning online Tuesday and Thursday. Plans for the high schoolers to start in-person classes two days a week are on hold.

At their Nov. 4 caucus meeting, the Weatherly Area School Board accepted two more resignations from the district’s paraprofessionals staff. As part of the school year budget, the board voted in June for five of these positions to be reduced from full-time with benefits to part-time without benefits. Since then, most of the part-timers have resigned. At this meeting, the board accepted resignations from Christa Buoniauto, effective Oct. 25, and Mary Stoffel, effective Nov. 2.

Business manager Natasha Milazzo said the district intends to replace those.

“Superintendent Teresa Young has advertisements out, (and) it is posted on our website,” Milazzo said.

Young was absent from this meeting.

Kellye Zocsin was hired as a substitute cleaning aide. School board member Matthew vonFrisch expanded on this hire, noting that the district is looking for more part-time cleaning aides and custodians, hours can be flexible, as well as part-time paraprofessionals.

The district would like to have more substitute teachers on its list, too. VonFrisch encouraged anyone interested in these jobs to contact the district’s business office.

The board also approved a short-term leave of absence, a family medical leave and a leave of absence without a term.

Pending clearances, the board was unanimous in approving a list of club and school program advisers and their stipends.

In the superintendent’s report, music teacher Daniel Derflinger was given a step raise to MS step 6 (due to earning his master’s degree, per the teacher’s union contract) of $2,912, effective Nov. 19. Policy revisions about discipline, records confidentiality, extracurricular activities, sports and records were given a first reading.