Mid-Prarie employees resign due to COVID-19 school plan

WELLMAN - The Mid-Prairie Community School District had six employees resign due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the decision made by the school board to hold in-person classes.

The district expected a few employees to resign due to health concerns for them, family members or children, said Business Manager Jeff Swartzentruber, though he cannot say if the number is more or less than they expected.

There were eight resignations listed in the Aug. 10 school board meeting. Of those, Swartzentruber said four of them were due to coronavirus concerns.

At the Aug. 24 meeting, two of the three were coronavirus-related.

'There was no way to know where people were going to come out once the decision was made,” Swartzentruber said.

Swartzentruber said they respect people who did not feel safe with the district's return-to-learn plan.

Swartzentruber said administrators don't have a playbook, they are making decisions with the information they have at the time.

Swartzentruber pointed to the district's mission statement, 'Preparing today's students for tomorrow's world in a caring learning environment.” He said the students and their education come first followed closely by staff.

The district is concerned about being very positive about how they approach things, Swartzentruber said.

'We are trying to make the education process this year as best as we can,” Swartzentruber said.