BERLIN â The Berlin Board of Education approved a measure last Thursday that would provide an incremental sign-on bonus of $600 for a year-round substitute teaching position, as a way to incentivize potential substitutes to apply for the position.
The approval of the sign-on bonus came after discussion regarding difficulties the school district is having in recruiting and retaining substitute teachers.
Berlin schools Superintendent Julie King said the position was added last year in the hopes of generating more flexibility and preparedness for the staff coverage the district was anticipating due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The position would be for a substitute teacher, but would be year-round in the sense that the substitute would work every school day.
BERLIN â The board of education delivered a much improved financial picture when it had its second budget meeting with the city council Monday night.
Superintendent of Schools Julie King reminded the council that when she presented the districtâs budget back in March it was looking at an increase of $1.29 million in expenditures coupled with a $2.2 million cut in revenues.
At the time she said she expected the budget figures would change and King reported they have changed for the better.
The district is still working to get qualified families to sign up for free and reduced lunch â a factor the state uses to determine education aid. Many did not bother sign up because federal funds this year made the program free for all students.
ANDROSCOGGIN VALLEY â Local school officials were still scrambling Monday to learn more about Gov. Chris Sununu s order that all schools in the state must reopen fully five days a week by April 19.
Both Berlin and Gorham schools operate in a hybrid mode, with a majority of students in-school and some in remote learning.
All were caught off guard by Sununuâs announcement Thursday afternoon. At the Berlin school board meeting Thursday night, Superintendent of Schools Julie King told the board she had heard the order just two hours earlier on television and had immediately emailed N.H. Commissioner of Education Frank Edelblut to get more information.