OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Superintendent Dr. Brad Zilliox noted the Fredonia Central School has increased nursing pay after a shortage has left the district in dire straits.

The Fredonia Central School District was told to “do better” by residents at a Board of Education meeting last month when it came to addressing its nursing shortage.

The district heard the comments loud and clear.

Superintendent Dr. Brad Zilliox shared at the latest Board of Education meeting the District has adjusted its rate of pay for nurses. The adjustment came through an agreement with the Salaried Support Staff Association to allow for increased wages for nurses and all other members, as well. The District has since posted multiple vacant positions at an increased wage.

The District has been short-staffed in the nursing offices after a recent resignation from a School Nurse in mid-February. That left the District with only one Registered Nurse (RN) and one Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) between the four schools: Wheelock School, Fredonia Elementary School, Fredonia Middle School and Fredonia High School. The District later had to close school for a day because there were no nurses available.

The District recently hired Megan Narraway as a School Nurse Assistant; Brigitte Hirschman as a per diem School Nurse Assistant; and Steve Cobb, Nichole Dispense, and Hannah Gullo as per diem Nurse Substitutes.

Nurse Assistants can assist the District’s health offices with clerical duties to ease the burden on the District’s current staff, despite being unable to administer medications. The District will continue to seek additional School Nurses.

“We are trying to bring people into the District who have medical training,” Zilliox said previously. “… We are hopeful this will bridge the gap to the next thing that will hopefully come sooner rather than later.”

Zilliox commended the staff currently in place for handling the additional duties while the District has been short-staffed.

Zilliox highlighted that School Nurses Cashel Mulkins and Courtney Emke “have really gone above and beyond” in recent weeks. Zilliox said the District will “move as quickly as we possibly can” to fill the remaining vacancies.

The District also recently hired a new School Psychologist, Antonette Backert, who will begin a four-year probationary appointment on April 9. Backert holds Permanent Certification as a School Psychologist.

Two long-term substitute teachers were approved by the Board, as Rob Calph and Lisa Johnston will begin their appointments on March 24. Selina Marrero and Jocelyn Paredes were appointed as Clerical Substitutes; Gabrielle Jones was appointed as a Substitute Teacher/Aide; and Anna Evans was appointed as a Substitute Teaching Assistant. The District also accepted the resignation of Teacher Aide Brenda McKelvey, effective March 1.

The District will also be allowing Westfield Academy students to join the Fredonia Trap Club at no additional cost to the District. Westfield Academy does not have its own Trap Club. The District also approved Craig Sullivan and Joshua Pierce to serve as volunteer coaches for the Trap Club. Additionally, Chris Kubacki and Wes Bolton were approved by the Board to serve as Modified Baseball Coaches.

The Board also voted for Sylvester Cleary, Wendy Dyment, Kurt Gustafson, Gregory Cole, and Aaron Richner as members of the Erie 2 BOCES Executive Committee. Board of Education member Sheila Hahn said, “Sylvester Cleary is outstanding.” Board of Education President Brian Aldrich responded, “I couldn’t agree with you more.”

The District also made an adjustment to its school calendar to cancel school for students and staff on April 8 due to the total solar eclipse. Students were already scheduled to be off April 8, while staff underwent professional development. Now, professional development will take place for the entire school day on May 6, with a half day for students canceled.

The next meeting of the Fredonia Board of Education is April 9 at 6 p.m. in the High School library.