NA school staff changes include new athletic director

The New Albany school year is beginning with a new athletic director and also the retirement of several long-time employees.

Among personnel matters, trustees approved naming coach Cody Stubblefield athletic director for the high school.

Stubblefield replaces Todd Lott, who announced his resignation several months ago to be head football coach at East Union.

Other personnel changes the board approved included:

• The resignation of Cindy Ashmore, assistant bookkeeper, central office, effective Dec. 31 due to retirement.
• The resignation of Kathryn Cagle, teacher, New Albany Middle School, effective July 24 due to retirement.
• The resignation of Nancy Grace, teacher assistant, New Albany Middle School, effective July 31 due to retirement.
• The resignation of Elaine Watson, teacher, New Albany Middle School, effective July13 due to retirement.
• The resignation of Kayla Rakestraw Wilson, teacher New Albany elementary School effective Aug. 3.
• The resignation of Brock White, bus driver, central office effective July 31.
• Hiring Dennis Siddell, bus driver, central office.
• Hiring Tammy Almand, bus driver, central office.
• Hiring Chris Wilson, custodian, New Albany Middle School

With school resuming this week in New Albany, officials are wrestling with how best to provide a good instructional environment while still keeping students and staff safe.

Nurse Tammie Reeder gave school trustees Monday an update about plans to prevent spread of the coronavirus in light of information State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs put out that day.

“Let me start by saying that two local physicians emailed me what LeBonheur put out this past week regarding going back to school,” Reeder said. “I think the entire document is very good.”

“It recommends face coverings for all students. It recommends giving mask breaks when eating and when they can be outside in social distancing,” she said. Of course, Dr. Dobbs recommends face coverings. Reeder said she has heard all of his press conferences as well as taking advantage of seminars for school nurses.

She said Dr. Dobbs was strongly concerned about school.  She has expected the state health department to release a strong recommendation, a mandate for face coverings at school this past week, because that is the best way to help in protecting them, along with the other things that we have put in place. “He did say it was not 100 percent, but that it is a huge piece of the puzzle,” she said. “He is very good about basing his information on factual data.”

“I realize that may be a challenge, but I wanted to share that with you,” she said.

Board member Ren Nelson expressed concern about teachers being able to keep masks on the younger students. The response was that using neck gaiters should help.  They will be easier to use, and the children won’t be dropping them on the floor, losing them or swapping them with others.

Board member Mark Garrett raised the question of compliance regarding face coverings. He asked what the schools should or could do if a student refuses to use a face covering. There appeared to be no good direct answer to that. Superintendent Dr. Lance Evans noted that, in such cases, the obvious course would be to use virtual classes only.

Others wondered about athletics, which will be more difficult to deal with in terms of spacing and contact.

Evans said the schools are adhering to high school activities association guidelines and that is working for extra-curricular activities. He particularly singled out band camp for handling the situation well.

It was also noted that the virus is apparently spread by respiratory droplets, but not by sweat.

Evans expressed hope that compliance will not be as much of a problem as it could have been a couple of months ago.

“It’s so serious now, I think people have come to see the importance of it,” he said.

Reeder said one of their biggest obstacles remains misinformation.

“We’re staying on factual things,” she said. “There’s so much out there that’s not.”

The governor has since signed an order requiring everyone to wear face coverings while out in public, and for all students to wear such coverings.

The next scheduled school board meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, in boardroom at the central office.

This is not a day usually scheduled for board meetings, but is being chosen due to the usual first Monday meeting day being Labor Day.