Dover City Schools hires teachers for online academy

DOVER At its meeting Monday, the Dover Board of Education made further preparations for the 2020-2021 school year, including hiring 10 online teachers.

A total of 478 students have enrolled in the Dover Online Academy this fall, according to Superintendent Carla Birney. That represents 17.5% of the total student body.

The online academy is one of two options for students returning to school during the coronavirus pandemic.

Hired as online teachers were Jared Hall, Denise Grimm, Jessi Garvin, Maureen Hammond, Jen McKee, Brianne Yackey, Christy Hopson, Kyle Dummermuth, Steve Shumaker and Christie Locke.

The district had already hired one online teacher, so a total of 11 will be providing instruction for the online academy.

“They are in the process of receiving training on the online curriculum, and I know that they’re excited to meet their students and get the school year started,” Birney said.

The board also approved the hiring of Robin Petrullo as a literacy coach for the 2020-2021 school year.

The school district has been awarded a Comprehensive Literacy State Development Sub Grant, which amounts to about $2.1 million over five years.

Birney said the money will be used to to purchase literacy materials, provide training for teachers and research-based literacy strategies.

“The literary coach will provide guidance and training for our teachers in using these strategies with their students,” the superintendent said.

She noted that because Tuscarawas County is now ranked yellow in the Ohio Public Health Advisory System, students will be attending classes five days a week when they return to school on Sept. 8. Previously, the county had been ranked orange, and the district planned to have students attend classes two days a week and do online learning three days a week.

There will be health and safety protocols in place, including cleaning, sanitizing, hand-washing, social distancing and wearing face coverings, Birney said.

In other business, the board of education:

n Accepted a grant of $13,619.22 from the Tuscarawas Society for Children & Adults, Inc. (Rainbow Connection) to be used for COVID-19 sanitation supplies.

n Accepted donations for the new DHS Gallery Hall: $50 — Kristy Deetz; $200 — Dave and Renee Flynn; $100 — Susan Vasco; $100 — Kathleen Riley; and $100 — Susan Gallion.

n Approve non-refundable supply fees for students attending school in person for the 2020-2021 school year: kindergarten through fifth grade — $25; and middle school — $50.

n Approve lunch prices for the 2020-2021 school year: grades K-5 — $2.25; middle school and high school — $2.50-$3; milk — 50 cents; adult — $2.75; breakfast — $1.