W-burg Board Discusses Flexible Instruction Days

Flexible Instruction Days, also referred to as FIDs, was the lead topic of conversation during last Thursday evening’s (Aug. 15) Williamsburg Community School Board meeting.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Flexible Instructional Days are defined as, “a tool available to public school entities to be used as an alternate approach to delivering instruction if a circumstance arises that prevents instruction in customary manner.”

Superintendent Lisa Murgas said that for Williamsburg to apply for FIDs it would have to turn in an application by the end of September.

Murgas said during meeting that there is “definitely a lot of things to figure out,” such as students needing learning support and medical assistance. Another debate was to have assignments be on technology/wireless versus paper-pencil.

Murgas said she hoped to get more answers during the county superintendents’ meeting, which was to be held earlier this week; until then, the issue was tabled until the September meeting.

Murgas also described to boardmembers about the new substitute system for which is new to the school district this upcoming school year. ESS staffing specializes in placing substitutes to openings in school districts. Several other Blair County school districts have been using this system.

“This program has attracted more people and hopefully it alleviates some of our sub issues from the past,” Murgas told the board.

Substitute rates were also approved during the board meeting with a substitute day-to-day rate at $90 and a nurse substitute day-to-day rate at $125.