Marietta BOE recalls 2 staffers | News, Sports, Jobs

During the Marietta City Schools Board of Education meeting on Monday, some of the board’s decisions included a learning loss prevention program, the recall of two staff members, and the renewal of contracts.

Two staff members were recalled at the meeting after previous job losses, Emilia VanReeth, kindergarten teacher at Washington Elementary, and Korey Parlin, Band Director at Marietta High School.

The meeting also featured two-year contract renewals for Kyle Scott, Kristi Lantz and Alison Woods. Three-year contract renewals were approved for Scott Kratche, Cody Venderlic, Cheryl Cook, Tasha Werry, Chad Rinard and Brittany Schob.

Although positions have changed, school board president Russell Garrison said parents should be assured that the same people will still be teaching their children.

Will Hampton, superintendent of Marietta City Schools, said they are already beginning to open up facilities because of less COVID-19 cases.

“We’re trying to look for more opportunities to expand our access, making some changes in custodial schedules to reflect that so that we can take another big step for normal,” Hampton said. “The reason that we can do that is I haven’t had a COVID notice since Feb. 22. That gives me some optimism.”

The new distribution of the district was laid out at the meeting. South of Ohio 821 and west of Interstate 77 will be the Washington Elementary School attendance area. North of Ohio 821 and east of I-77 will be the Phillips Elementary School attendance area.

Current high school students had the chance to receive a COVID-19 vaccination if they filled out a form through the Marietta City School email. The vaccination will be given next week.

A new program was approved by the board which will focus on learning which was lost due to COVID-19. Additional staff will be hired with a two-year contract, and teachers who lost their jobs due to a recent board Reduction in Force have first dibs on the positions.

“We may find things that we can’t live without,” Hampton said. “So not only is it an income, an opportunity to recapture loss of learning, and to do some extension work with some of our kids. It might give us an opportunity to rethink how we’re doing some things and make some adjustments.”

Students may get the chance to visit Washington, D.C., next spring. The district was unable to hold the trips because of COVID-19, but with cases slowing, Hampton said they will be looking into the trip once school is back in session.

In collaboration with the State of Ohio, the district will be partnering with local businesses to offer internships to students in tech positions. Businesses have until May 21 to register for the program, and students will be interviewed by the businesses to see if they are a good fit.