District OKs two in-service days

Cedar Grove-Belgium School District teachers are getting two more in-service days during the spring semester to continue working on the ongoing mix of in-person and online education due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The School Board this month approved switching Fridays, Feb. 5 and March 5, from schooldays to staff in-service days.

The board in early fall approved doing the same thing with two Fridays during the first semester. Supt. Chad Brakke at that time said he planned to come back and ask for more days in spring.

“Staff thought they were useful and beneficial,” he said. “The staff has been very appreciative of the board allowing them that time.”

The  workdays set up a schedule of that gives students every other Friday off. Jan. 22 and Feb. 19 are already teacher workdays, and spring break provides another one after the March 5 in-service day.

The administration considered asking for a Friday in May to maintain the schedule but wanted to wait.

“In our discussion, things could be different then,” Brakke said, referring to what may change with the pandemic.

The board approved switching the two Fridays unanimously, 6-0. Kurt Kraus was absent.