The Jamestown Public School Board approved multiple personnel items on Aug. 18, including a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to host a speech‑language pathologist specialist‑in‑training, a 0.5 full‑time‑equivalent Dean of Students, and semester‑one extended contracts for shortage areas.
The board voted to approve the MOU with James River Special Education Cooperative to bring back and train an employee to expand speech‑language services. "It's an opportunity to bring an employee back to the district, provide some training for her," Superintendent Dr. Lehi said, noting speech positions are among the hardest to fill.
The board also approved a 0.5 FTE Dean of Students for the 2025‑26 school year; the district said the halftime arrangement is feasible because the selected staff member, Rachel Castet, also serves as an instructional coach and her schedule provides flexibility for coverage. The administration described contingency protocols: designated building‑level staff cover minor issues and administrators or central office staff respond to significant matters when both halves of coverage are off campus.
Board members pressed for clearer policy language on extended contracts, which the administration said are used primarily to address shortage areas (science, math and English language arts) and to recognize duties that fall outside a standard teaching load (for example, when a teacher takes a sixth or seventh prep). "We don't do it for a teacher who's also going to be reading coach or instructional coach ... I just like to see some definition around it," board member Aaron said. The motion to approve semester‑one extended contracts passed without amendment.
Other personnel actions approved by voice vote included approval to hire Stephanie Wall (pending background check and appropriate licensure) and other routine personnel items listed in the agenda. Several board members requested a future agenda item to present the Dean of Students roles and to continue work toward a clearer extended‑contract policy.