The Moore County Board of Education voted for virtual teachers at its Sept. 11 business meeting. Crain’s Creek Middle School needs two math teachers, and it takes both a certified virtual math teacher and an assistant to replace a single math teacher. The vote hinges on legal review by the board’s attorney.
The estimated cost for two virtual teachers is $138,843, and the cost for two teacher assistants is $87,000.
The students will be in the classroom, and the teacher will be on a monitor.
According to board member David Hensley, the board was under an emergency situation because they do not have two math teachers for Crain’s Creek Middle School for the 2023-2024 school year due to teacher shortages.
Superintendent Tim Locklair said that based on need, Fullmind Virtual Staffing met the board’s standards.
“We will monitor the impact as we move through,” Locklair said about the pilot program.
Hensley said the vote for Fullmind Virtual Staffing without a contract in place or more discussion was not a pilot program.
The risk of setting precedence for a transition for virtual teachers from foreign countries and losing existing teachers to virtual careers were other concerns expressed by Hensley.
Chair Robert Levy said it costs the board more to hire virtual teachers because they also have to hire a teacher assistant to oversee the classroom.
“We need to set proficiency pay,” Hensley said to repair the chronic teacher recruitment problem. “I’m going to vote against this.”
“We need to be creative because there are no teachers,” Member Stacey Caldwell said about voting for virtual learning under emergency conditions.
Member Pauline Bruno said the risk of losing teachers to virtual careers because the virtual teachers make more money was why she did not vote for the emergency staffing idea.
With 30 days’ notice of hiring a classroom teacher, the virtual staffing contract may be canceled.
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Pam Patterson reviewed the proposal for Fullmind Virtual Staffing at last month’s work session.
Concerning school uniforms, the board voted 5 to 1 to utilize a survey for community input.
The uniform survey may be viewed here.
Hensely said the vote for a survey was a vote for uniforms, and the dress code had not been enforced until Locklair became superintendent. He said we need to respect cultural rights and be culturally sensitive when designing the uniforms. He voted against the survey.
Cadell said she did not support uniforms but wanted a public response.
Levy said he wanted a uniform that could be purchased at Walmart, not a uniform store.
To learn about more topics discussed at the meeting, please click here.
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel journalist Stephanie M. Sellers; BS Mass Communications and Journalism, MFA Creative Writing.
