LIBERTY — After having to cancel school recently because of a lack of bus drivers, Liberty school district officials are looking at an incentive to get more drivers.
The board of education on Monday approved developing a pre-employment sign-on incentive of $500, payable in two payments to contracted bus drivers hired for the 2022-23 school year who complete the school year, effective today.
School district Treasurer Maureen Lloyd said many school districts have faced challenges in getting bus drivers and substitute bus drivers.
On Feb. 16, Liberty had to cancel school for students because it did not have enough bus drivers due to illness and a lack of replacement drivers.
Lloyd said those new drivers hired for the school year will receive $250 and then the remaining $250 will be paid when the drivers complete the 2022-23 year on June 1.
She said school officials wanted to provide an incentive to get and keep bus drivers.
“It is a nationwide problem for schools to find bus drivers. There are other school districts that use incentives. We wanted to take a first step and do this,” Lloyd said.
Other area school districts, such as Southington, also recently had to cancel school due to lack of
bus drivers.
OTHER BUSINESS
The board is planning to get the high school roof repaired.
Lloyd said the the school building was constructed more than 20 years ago and the roof needs repaired.
The board approved seeking bids for the project and then will review whether to do the entire roof or parts of it, she said.
Lloyd said pandemic relief funds will be used for the project.
The board approved Tremco Roofing and Building Maintenance, approved through the Ohio Council of Educational Purchasing Consortia, of which the Ohio Schools Council is a member. The company will prepare and solicit bids for the repair or replacement of the high school roof and to supervise the site preparation, and provide installation oversight for the project.
Lloyd said over the years some minor work had been done on parts of the roof.
SUPERINTENDENT CONTRACT
The board approved a new one-year contract for Superintendent Andrew Tommelleo effective from August to July 2024 at his current salary of $92,202.
Tommelleo was hired as an interim superintendent in August 2020 and then received a two-year contract for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 years.
The board also approved a multi-colored paw logo in a 12-foot center circle on the high school gymnasium basketball court by the Ohio Floor Company.
The cost of the preparation, layout and artwork totals $5,900 with a donation from resident Elaine Jacobs covering the project cost. The donation will cover the paw logo.