Internet access among COVID-19 challenges at Akron Central

Getting internet service to the entire Akron Central School District continued to be a challenge last week, Superintendent of Schools Patrick McCabe reported to School Board members at their March 25 ZOOM meeting. 

There are over 150 students without access to internet and carriers told McCabe they do not have service in some of the areas where students reside and, because of that lack of infrastructure, they cannot help.  The District looked at hot spots, however with lack of cable and cell coverage in some of the areas, that is not an option either.

The wi-fi at school is on and parents and students are welcome to come park at the school to tap into that service, according to McCabe.  “Paper and pencil” materials are also being distributed.

McCabe said providing continuity of education through distance learning is a whole team effort and he appreciates the flexibility and cooperation of all of the District’s bargaining units in meeting that goal.

In other matters at the March 25 meeting, Board members accepted the letter of retirement resignation with appreciation for her years of service, from Elementary Teacher, Deborah Hamm, effective September 3, 2020; approved the leave of absence for Math teacher Krista Schiffler effective on or about June 12, 2020, appointed Zacheriah Keinheder to a full-time, short-term substitute Physical Education position pending lifting of the NYS Governor’s Executive Order, due to COVID-19 school closings through the end of the school year.

Board members also approved the internship placement of Amber Szymanski from Capella University with Molly Bilinski, School Social Worker form October 12, 2020 through March 19, 2021; Hannah Nelson as an instructional substitute for the district for the 2019-2020 school year; a memorandum of agreement between the District and the Akron Employees Association regarding the impact of Corona Virus 19 on District operations and Association members during the 2019-2020 school year.

Also approved was the provisional appointment of Emily Kenline to a Principal Clerk Typist position, pending the completion of the Principal Clerk Typist exam when next given, effective March 11. 2020; appointment of Jennifer Frens to a temporary, full-time monitor position effective March 11, 2020 through June 24, 2020; and abolishment of one full-time, twelve-moth senior clerk typist position effective March 19, 2020.  A one full-time, ten-month principal clerk typist position, effective March 19, 2020 was approved, as was creation of a temporary, part-time, teacher aide position, effective March 19, 2020 to approximately June 1, 2020 (based on the track season)/ Lori Baumler was appointed to a temporary, part-time teacher aide position based on the track season.

A part-time, temporary monitor position effective March 9 through April 9 was created and Emily Kenline appointed to a temporary, part-time monitor position.

Bonnie James was approved as a clerical substitute with the District for the 2019-2020 school year, Elise Leeds – Assistant Track, and Garrett Schultz – Assistant Lacrosse were approved for extra-curricular assignments for 2019-2020 effective on or about April 1, 2020 as per the NYS Governors Executive Order, due to CIVID-19 school closings.

Antoinette Abrams – Varsity Softball, Claudia Stone – Varsity Softball, and Amanda Swader – Girls Track were approved as athletic volunteers for 2019-2020.

Board members accepted the letter of resignation for Claims Auditor, Melissa Sanford, effective no later than April 15, 2020, pending the training of the new applicant; approved obsolete books for sale/disposal per lists submitted by Dr. Taweepon Farrar, Director of Educational Services; approved a school district policy on Child Abuse and Maltreatment; accepted donations of $5,000 from the ACS Class of 202 to be used towards the purchase of graduation caps, gowns, sashes and stoles for the Class of 2020; $300 from P. Abrams for the 2020 Frank Abrams Memorial Scholarship; $175.00 from J. Drayer and $175.00 from K. Drayer for the 2020 Barbara Drayer Memorial Scholarship, $100.00 from J. Flint toward the Class of 1964 Scholarship $500.00 each toward the 2020 Friends of Harold Johnson Memorial Scholarship, 2020 Friends of Jack Silvernail Memorial Scholarship, and 2020 Friends of Tom Hibbard Memorial Scholarship from the Thursday Night Golf League, $5,00000 from T. Buekers for the Akron Health Sciences Scholarship, and $1,360.00 donation to Elementary Expendable Trust Account from the Akron PTA from Tae Kwon Do classes.