story by Carol Anders, Times-Union Correspondent
Triton School Board livestreamed their July meeting on Monday. Questions by the public were answered during the meeting as patrons posted questions online.
According to Superintendent Jeremy Riffle, a “blueprint” of how instruction will proceed starting the first day of school on Aug. 5 has been released. Plans are to review the blueprint every 15 days to make modifications as necessary.
Riffle said, “No plan is perfect.” He said they believe the most effective instruction is done in the classroom and that all students will be returning as normal. He did indicate that there will be virtual instruction as well for students if parents fill out an online learning form.
Students should have cloth face masks that will be required on the bus routes, bathrooms and passing periods. If parents are not able to provide masks for their children, the school corporation will do everything possible to make them available. There will be unmask times within the classrooms unless there are underlying health conditions of particular students, teachers or family members.
There will be no field trips during the first quarter of the school year. They are discontinuing attendance incentives as the COVID pandemic restrictions continue.
Water-filling stations have been installed where students can fill water bottles that they bring from home and all regular water fountains have been closed.
Riffle said they did send letters on June 20 to parents and are providing a video on the school corporation’s website where they explained some of the measures being taken for the safety of students and staff.
Riffle noted improvements made to the campus over the summer including paving of tennis courts, ceiling tiles installed at the junior-senior high school, bleachers installed, baseball dugouts improved, hand sanitations station installed and personal protection shields installed.
In other matters, the board approved textbook rental fees for the junior-senior high school and requests for fundraisers.
The board unanimously approved the following appointments: Zach Shafer, Jr.-Sr. High Tech integration specialist; Matt Arveson, Jr.-Sr. high tech integration specialist; Morgan Hall, Jr.-Sr. High PE/health teacher; Jennifer Schaetzle, second-grade teacher; Diane Murphy, second-grade teacher; Jodie Vermillion, sixth-grade teacher; Allison Stuart, preschool instructional assistant; Annie Cline, elementary instructional assistant; Tony Plothow, varsity volleyball assistant coach; Thomas Cody, varsity track assistant coach; Joe White, varsity cross country coach; Brad Gardner, tennis coach; and Tori Kistler, varsity assistant and JV cheer coach.
The following contracts were also approved: summer school contract; status quo for teachers; social worker, Josh Van Houten; speech pathologist, Sheryl Hochstetler; assistant athletic director, Jason Groves; media specialist, Carolyn Alexander; and ECA positions.
