Gill-Montague School Committee Approves Staff Prep Days, Budget Transfers Amid COVID Return Concerns

GILL -- October 13, 2020, Gill-Montague School Committee approves teacher prep days and two budget transfers as COVID ventilation repairs run behind schedule. Meeting virtually on October 13, the committee unanimously authorized Superintendent Brian Beck to schedule two largely asynchronous half-days to allow staff to prepare classrooms before any hybrid student return, a return Beck said will not proceed district-wide until airflow tests clear each building. Special education teacher Brittany Cooley told the board that as of October 12 repairs at Hillcrest Elementary were awaiting parts and Sheffield's fixes were not guaranteed by Friday, calling for COVID testing protocols the district has not yet established. A parent identified as Jesse Groenman warned that the middle school's unbroken 7:45 a.m.-to-11:15 a.m. block schedule was contributing to her son's depression and academic failure. The committee also approved a transfer to replace a rusting 2006 maintenance van with a Ford F-250 through state bid and was warned that the Town of Gill must hold a town meeting before December 1 or the state will assume oversight of the district's fiscal year 2021 budget.