Like many school districts across the country, Fairfield Area School District is watching for staffing shortages and potential supply problems. So far, the district has been able to handle the challenges, department heads reported during the school board’s meeting Monday evening.
William Mooney, district buildings and grounds supervisor, said that the district normally has five second-shift custodians but has been short on staff. He also said that suppliers have warned that there will likely be shortages of some items. Mooney said he is working to adjust for the anticipated issues.
Mooney thanked one staff member who stepped up to assist with a staffing challenge.
“I would like to give a shout-out to one of my maintenance workers, John, who worked in the cafeteria because they were short-staffed,” Mooney said. “He worked on the food line and he worked washing dishes, which is way beyond his duties as a maintenance worker. He did what he had to do cheerfully to keep the district open, so shout-out to him.”
The district’s roof work is “99% done,” according to Mooney.
The district has had a busy few weeks hiring new and interim superintendents, planning parent-teacher conferences, holding homecoming, and providing SAT testing, among other projects.
Brian McDowell, principal of Fairfield Area High School, said parents can sign up for in-person or Zoom parent-teacher conferences. Conferences for high school students will be held Nov. 5.
Elementary and middle school conferences will be held Nov. 4-5.
McDowell said Fairfield students, like others in the state, are completing the Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS.) Students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 will complete the survey.
“It gives the district information on drugs, alcohol and mental health, all those types of things that are important for the district and people to understand what’s going on in their community, so that’s something we partake in every two years,” McDowell said.
During the district’s athletic report, the board was told the district is trying to get information out to students about the wrestling program and is working to hire a coach.
The next regular board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 8.
There are typically two regular board meetings held each month, but only one is scheduled for November.
Meetings are held in the district board room. Most meetings are also posted on the district’s YouTube profile.
Imari Scarbrough is a freelance journalist. She was a staff newspaper reporter for five years before becoming a freelancer in 2017. She has written on crime, environmental issues, severe weather events, local and regional government and more.
You can visit her website at ImariJournal.com.