Tag: Bondy Shay Gibson

Staff Shortages Force Jefferson County Schools To Dismiss Students Early On Fridays

For the next six weeks, all Jefferson County public schools will switch to an early dismissal schedule on Fridays as a result of staffing shortages.

Beginning Oct. 15 and continuing through Nov. 19, Jefferson County students will leave school three hours early every Friday. The idea is to allow teachers and staff time to catch up on lessons, clean classrooms and catch their breath.

The move comes in the wake of staffing shortages in the school system as a result of the pandemic.

“Teachers are giving up planning periods, principals are serving meals, central office staff are substitute teaching, and transportation supervisors are driving buses,” said Jefferson County Superintendent of Schools Bondy Shay Gibson in a statement to West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

“We have been all hands on deck for nearly two months. In some school districts, these short staffing issues have led to school closures or shifts to total remote instruction. [Jefferson County Schools] wants to avoid those scenarios, but as the largest employer in Jefferson County, we have an obligation to our staff to give them the tools they need to be successful serving your children.”

The six-week initiative is called Sustaining Excellence.

The school system has anywhere from 131 to 214 empty positions on a given day, with a daily average of about 150, according to Jefferson County Schools. They say this is either because it’s a vacancy with no one in the position or that person is simply absent.

Gibson hopes by dismissing students early on Fridays, this will help alleviate some of the pressure on teachers and staff.

“While we know this will be an inconvenience for our parents, it will serve many purposes that will enhance the quality of the time their children are in school,” said Jefferson County Schools (JCS) in a document detailing the Sustaining Excellence plan.

Jefferson County Schools said students will continue to receive breakfast and lunch on Fridays, and JCS hopes through the “consistency” of the new schedule rather than “sporadic closures,” it will help parents to plan accordingly.

The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) said it is not aware of any other West Virginia counties offering early dismissals as a result of staffing shortages.

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, staffing challenges within school systems have been reported across the country. While this issue is present in West Virginia, it is unclear how widespread school-related shortages are in the state.

According to the WVDE’s online K-12 Education Job Bank, which shows the number of vacancies in all K-12 education in the state, there are 320 job openings within all 55 county school systems.

Of that, there are reportedly only six vacancies in Jefferson County Schools, according to the WVDE. This does not align, however, with what has recently been reported by Jefferson County Schools.

A spokesperson from the WVDE said posting job openings to the WVDE’s website is a responsibility of an individual county and “posting jobs to this site is voluntary.”

W.Va. School Employee Suspension For Trump Event Prompts Lawsuit

Updated on Jan. 12, 2021 at 5 p.m.

A federal lawsuit said two Jefferson County, West Virginia school bus drivers were suspended in retaliation for attending demonstrations in the nation’s capital. Jefferson County Schools said the employees were placed on paid leave while under investigation for possible illegal activity connected to that event.

Attorney John Bryan filed the lawsuit against Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Bondy Shay Gibson on behalf of bus drivers Tina Renner and Pamela McDonald.

The lawsuit said Renner and McDonald’s actions were protected under the First Amendment when they traveled to Washington, D.C. to support President Donald Trump.

Renner and McDonald rode on a charter bus Jan. 6. After hearing Trump speak at a rally, they walked to the U.S. Capitol, remained in an area designated for public occupation and did not participate in illegal activities, the lawsuit said.

After returning to Jefferson County, Renner and McDonald each received a phone call from the school district’s director of transportation informing them that they would be placed on paid administrative leave. Both also received letters from Superintendent Gibson.

The lawsuit said attending the rally was unrelated to the bus drivers’ employment and that they had enough leave days available to attend the rally.

Gibson said in a statement to West Virginia Public Broadcasting that she “respects the system of due process for all citizens” and “trusts the integrity of the judiciary to uphold that process.” In a prior statement, Gibson said the individuals were being investigated for alleged “threatening and inflammatory” Facebook posts and for violating the county’s leave policy.

Jefferson County Schools reports Renner and McDonald are the only employees under investigation, debunking previous rumors that about 30 other employees were also being investigated.

Last week’s insurrection in Washington, D.C. resulted in the death of a Capitol police officer who sustained injuries as a mob violently ransacked the U.S. Capitol. Police also fatally shot a woman during the riot. Three others died in what authorities said were medical emergencies.

Jefferson Superintendent Draws First Amendment Criticism After District Investigates Employees Who Attended Violent U.S. Capitol Rally

Updated on Jan. 12, 2021 at 5:30 p.m.

At least two Jefferson County School employees are under investigation by the school district following last week’s protest of Congress certifying state election results. The two employees in question are school bus drivers Tina Renner and Pamela McDonald. The women are being investigated for possible illegal activity in connection to Wednesday’s violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and for “threatening” Facebook posts.

Jefferson County Schools issued a news release over the weekend announcing the investigation.

“Jefferson County Schools fully supports the rights of employees and students to exercise their First Amendment freedoms, including the right to peaceably assemble and to petition the government, but Wednesday’s protests involved violence and other unlawful conduct,” the statement read. “The District is investigating the matter to determine if any employee engaged in any illegal activity.”

Since the district sent the letters, however, there has been an uproar on social media platforms.

Many Twitter and Facebook users have posted strong support for the decision or have shared outrage, citing the move goes against the First Amendment right to freedom of speech.

The Jefferson County Republican Executive Committee’s Facebook group issued a statement on Jan. 9 calling for Jefferson County School Superintendent Bondy Shay Gibson herself to be placed under investigation for her actions, saying her letter to employees was “a frightening attack on our liberties.”

“On behalf of all Jefferson County Republicans, the JCREC is requesting that the Board of Education immediately cease the violation of the Constitutional rights of the BOE’s employees, students, and the citizens of Jefferson County,” the group wrote in a Facebook post. “We are further requesting that Dr. Gibson be suspended pending an investigation of her actions.”

Following the uproar online, Gibson issued a statement Monday saying the individuals in question are under investigation, because she received reports that the employees allegedly published “threatening and inflammatory posts on their Facebook pages” and “had been present at the Electoral protest march on Wednesday that erupted in violence, and had violated our leave policy.”

“I understand that in this hyper-political environment, the letters came across to some as a potential threat of punishment for political beliefs. That was neither true nor the intention,” Gibson wrote. “I want to be clear that EVERY[sic] employee has EVERY[sic] right to the politics and beliefs of their choice, so long as their behavior does not cause harm or is illegal. I am seeking to determine whether these employees violated any policy or laws.”

Gibson went on to say no disciplinary action has been taken at this time, and the individuals were put on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

West Virginia Public Broadcasting requested a copy of the letter sent to Jefferson County employees, but the school district did not respond.

 

The initial news release said the investigation “involves a personnel matter, the District cannot provide any additional information at this time.”

Screenshots of one of the letters, however, have been circulating on social media.

Multiple news outlets such as the Martinsburg Journal and WV MetroNews reported that the employees were to schedule meetings with Gibson for Tuesday, Jan. 12 and that disciplinary action, including termination, may follow.

Another outlet, 930 WFMD Free Talk based in Frederick, Maryland reported that “about 30 teachers” are under investigation, rather than just two.

Jefferson County Schools told West Virginia Public Broadcasting that Renner and McDonald are the only employees under investigation, debunking claims that more employees were being investigated.

As a result of the suspension and investigation, a federal lawsuit has been filed against Superintendent Gibson on behalf of Renner and McDonald. The lawsuit said the actions of the two women were protected under the First Amendment and maintains they did not participate in illegal activity.

Across the country, law enforcement and the FBI have been asking for help in identifying any individuals who were present at the rally last week and who may have participated in unlawful conduct.

Newly elected House of Delegates member Derrick Evans, a Republican from Wayne County, resigned over the weekend — before serving in the Legislature — following his involvement in Wednesday’s insurrection.

He also faces federal charges for his role in those events.

At least five people died as a result of Wednesday’s violence, including one Capitol Police officer who sustained injuries during the attack on the Capitol.

Heartfelt Letter From Jefferson Co. Superintendent Calling For A Snow Day Goes Viral

A letter from Jefferson County’s superintendent of schools announcing a snow day for her county went viral on Twitter and even made the website of PEOPLE magazine.

It was also recognized by the West Virginia Board of Education during the December meeting Wednesday.

Superintendent Bondy Shay Gibson sent a letter to parents, teachers and staff ahead of Wednesday’s blanket of snow that swept across parts of West Virginia and up to Maine.

In her letter, Gibson chose to completely close schools for the day, including virtual. She encouraged everyone to get away from the sorrow of a difficult year and enjoy a snow day.

“It has been a year of seemingly endless loss,” Gibson wrote. “For just a moment, we can all let go of the worry… So, please, enjoy a day of sledding and hot chocolate and cozy fires… We will return to the serious and urgent business of growing up on Thursday, but for [Wednesday]…go build a snowman.”

Jefferson County Schools
/

The letter has been celebrated by many Twitter users locally and in other states and called “heroic” and “compassionate” online.

West Virginia Board of Education President Miller Hall called the letter “touching.”

The letter was shared by local news outlets, Eyewitness News in Charleston and Huntington, and NBC Washington, along with PEOPLE.

DeVos Praises School Reopening Efforts On Visit To Jefferson County

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos heard from principals, teachers, custodial staff, a band director, students and parents – all from Jefferson County Schools – who shared positive feedback on the district’s approach to fall 2020.

DeVos came to Kearneysville on Thursday to attend the in-person event and highlight the success the district has experienced since resuming school Sept. 8.

“It’s the unanimous commitment that I heard from those surrounding the table here, to doing what’s right for students, and to doing what it takes,” DeVos said. “And the tremendous collaboration that has taken place to ensure that kids could be back in school, in-person learning.”

Shortly after schools in West Virginia were closed in March, the Jefferson County School district began working to create a safe, in-person schooling environment for the fall, while at the same time polishing a virtual school model that syncs up with in-person learners.

County education officials ramped up cleaning efforts, and served more than 300,000 meals to students in the spring and summer. They held Zoom meetings throughout the summer with the community to collect feedback. They also got more devices like laptops and tablets into the hands of teachers and students, and even offered training for teachers in self-care.

Shepherdstown Middle School teacher and coach Kevin Holmes said despite his health problems and his doctor advising him not to return to in-person work, he feels safe after seeing the efforts to keep schools clean.

“[I have] high blood pressure, asthma, sleep apnea, diabetes. I’m probably at the top of list as the health risk in Jefferson County Schools,” Holmes said. “But when I came in … the floors were spotless, you could probably eat off of them, and all the supplies – we have magic wands to clean our keyboards. There’s no reason for me not to come back.”

Holmes argued his place was in the school – that he needed to be there for his kids.

Liz McCormick
/
West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Shepherdstown Middle School teacher and coach Kevin Holmes said despite his health problems and his doctor advising him not to return to in-person work, he feels safe after seeing the efforts to keep schools in Jefferson County clean.

Jefferson County Superintendent of Schools Bondy Shay Gibson pointed out that many of the efforts her district has made to make school safer will be here to stay post-COVID.

“Even when there’s no more COVID, we don’t go back to how we were,” Gibson said. “That’s not how life works. So, a lot of the lessons that we’ve learned now, they’ve been hard lessons, but they’re getting us ready, I think, for a pretty amazing future.”

About half of students throughout Jefferson County are attending school virtually, according to officials. The West Virginia Department of Education reports, however, that statewide, the majority of learners opted to attend in person.

West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Clayton Burch was also at the event. He said Jefferson County’s reopening plan is a great model and noted that it was Jefferson County that stepped up first with a reopening plan. He also said it was the first one he presented to the state Board of Education. He reiterated a message, though, that in-person schooling is key to successful learning.

“I’ve been critical since March and throughout the summer of remote learning, and I will continue to be critical of remote learning,” Burch said. “It is not what’s best for children. It is not how we all learn. We must take care of our children. Remote learning in the state of West Virginia did not and is not working.”

Despite this criticism of remote learning, Burch did acknowledge that more needs to be done to ensure virtual schooling is accessible to those who need it in the state. He mentioned that he appreciates the Kids Connect Initiative, which created more than 1,000 WiFi hotspots throughout the state to help K-12 and higher education students, but said it’s not enough.

“Until every child in the state of West Virginia has access to high-quality internet, and every teacher, then we have not equalized the playing field for all,” Burch said.

Liz McCormick
/
West Virginia Public Broadcasting
(left to right) West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Clayton Burch, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, and Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Bondy Shay Gibson in Kearneysville, W.Va. on Oct. 1, 2020.

DeVos echoed the importance of expanding access to virtual learning.

“This pandemic has revealed the benefits that technology can bring in new and unique ways,” DeVos said. “And I think that a lot of teachers and education leaders are also acknowledging and realizing that technology can be used effectively, in ways that we can really look forward to using it going forward, in ways that had not heretofore been considered.”

All West Virginia schools are required by the governor to offer in-person, virtual, and hybrid learning. Whether a county can offer in-person schooling is determined weekly by a color-coded map that offers updates on COVID-19 infection rates.

Exit mobile version