“I don’t know if you know this or not, but today was the first day of school,” middle and high school Principal Kelly Kauffman told the Riverside Schools Board of Education at their meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 20. “And it was great.
“This is why we do what we do.”
Kauffman’s report to the board included praise for their staff’s can-do attitude and willingness to put students first. Even when that meant last-minute adjustments to their job.
“We’ve seen a lot of changes between July first and now,” Kauffman said. “Even yesterday I had to change someone’s assignment. And 99 percent of the time, (the response is) ‘whatever you want me to do.’”
Tuesday’s meeting started off on a strong note as DeeDee Harshbarger and other area residents attended in support of the school district.
“We want you to know we see your hearts for this community and our children,” Harshbarger said. She expressed their concern for changes in the culture that could negatively impact the school and its students.
“This group … has your back,” she stated, “and we’re praying for you to continue to lead with the Christian heritage this country was founded upon.”
Harshbarger then prayed for strength and wisdom for the staff and students of Riverside.
Next, Breanna Detrick with Community Health and Wellness Partners, gave the board a rundown of how the new Community Health Center is impacting the school and the community.
The center offers a number of options for the area, including annual well-child and adult health-maintenance visits, diabetes check-ups, physicals, a dietician and a shot clinic. They recently held their first group session—a self-confidence workshop for young ladies to help with coping skills, which also provided a self-defense class.
One benefit of the center is the fast turn-around time. According to Detrick, the average amount of time a student is out of class for a visit is 22 minutes. If it’s for a behavior health-related issue, that averages at 60 minutes.
It saves adults time as well, with board president Janet Siders admitting she was in and out in 30 minutes on a recent visit.
“We’ve got a doctor in the house,” Dr. Scott Mann, school superintendent, said. “It provides a sense of security for the people in town.”
For example, at the request of the EMA, the center remained open during the eclipse in April in case of emergency. Fortunately, according to Detrick, they didn’t have any. But the community knew they were there, if needed.
In the superintendent’s report, Mann gave Kauffman kudos for eliminating cell phone usage in the classroom and commended the staff at Riverside.
“The people we got are the people we want. They’ll do anything for our kids,” he stated.
Cell Phone Policy
After the meeting, Kauffman gave an update on the new cell phone policy, which was approved by the board in July. The policy requires students to power down their phones and put them in their lockers before the first period.
For the last four or five years, Kauffman tried a more lenient policy—the students could have phones in the halls and at lunch with classroom usage at each teacher’s discretion. But after talking with staff and students, she realized just how pervasive cell phone use was throughout the day.
“I started on a quest to research and talk to other schools and decided it was best not to have it at all,” Kauffman concluded.
As a result, the students can’t access their phones until the bell rings at the end of the day. This also includes AirPods, earbuds and smartwatches. Kauffman met with teachers over the summer to help her make this decision.
“I want to give you a break,” Kauffman has told the students who question the policy. “You might not want one right now, but in time you’ll realize your mental health is better and your relationships with classmates are stronger.”
Academic success and mental health were Kauffman’s main incentives for the policy, confirming it’s not about technology as every student, K-12, has a Chromebook. Yet she’s seen kids struggle with concentration and focus as their test scores drop.
As for the first day of school with students completely off their phones? With a smile, Kauffman admitted, “Only five kids wouldn’t speak to me today.”
In other board action:
• Due to her decision to retire, Lori Roberts’ resignation as media arts teacher/librarian at the end of the 2024-2025 school year was accepted.
• Billy Schoffner also resigned as a paraprofessional at the end of the 2023-2024 year, and as freshman boys basketball coach for the 2024-2025 school year.
• Shelley Gamble-Baker has resigned her position as a custodian as of Aug. 23, 2024.
• The following employment contracts were approved for the 2024-2025 school year: Lydia Price, paraprofessional; Christina Shaffer, part-time bus aide; Jean Cooper, cafeteria staff.
• Pending all requirements are met, the following have been approved as van/bus drivers for the 2024-2025 school year: Angel Allen, Chelsea Andrews, Jason Bell, Kayla Castallante, Tonya Castallante, Brooxie Crouch, Laura Dalton, Amanda Gammell, Nicole Harshbarger, Bryce Hodge, Tyler Hodge, James Stevenson, Kelly Kauffman, Kyle Knight, Scott Mann, Beth Marks, Amy McDaniel, Brogan Oliver, Andrew Phelps, Alan Pope, Shane Pope, Bonnie Shaffer, William Shaffer, Angie Shoe, Avery Smith, Dawn Smith, Patrick Smith, Jean Stanfield, Caitlynn Wickline, Lindsay Wyan and Rod Yoder.
• The 2024-2025 bus routes were approved with the right of the district to make changes as needed.
• Teaching staff as VLA teachers for the 2024-2025 school year will receive stipends at the rate of $250 for a full-credit course, $125 for a half-credit, and $75 for a quarter-credit.
• Treasurer Ronnie Fitchpatrick also asked the board to approve the transfer of $65,552 from the clinic and office fund back into the general fund now that the project is complete.
• Mann requested the board once again pass a resolution allowing the district to hire substitute teachers who don’t have a bachelor’s degree but meet all other requirements, if needed. It was approved.
• Having already been approved, the schematic design submission from Garmann Miller and Associates, Inc., and H.A. Dorsten, Inc., for the gymnasium and weight room project, a 51-page document, was presented to the board.
The next Riverside board of education meeting is 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17.
