Superintendent Louis Byars spent much of his day on Tuesday, March 30 hand delivering reimbursement checks to administrators and educators who serve in Rome City Schools.
This teacher reimbursement program was approved during this month’s RCS School Board meeting and the funds are part of monies from CARES (Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security) Act passed by the federal government to assist those effected by problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Byars said that offering the $500 checks to faculty members was necessary because of the unforeseen costs associated with opening schools last fall.
Many teachers and administrators in the system purchased supplies that were used in classrooms to keep it clean and sanitary. Byars and the RCS Board members agreed that educators in the system have gone above and beyond to keep their students safe, even if that meant opening their wallets to do so.
“I know we are all looking forward to spring break,” Byars said as he addressed the faculty, staff and students over the Rome Middle School intercom, “But I wanted to come by to deliver the $500 checks our Board had approved through our CARES fund. This is just a way we can say thank you for the work you have done and to help you with expenses you have incurred during this last year. We wanted to reimburse you for some of those expenses. We are getting close to the end of this year and I want to again say thank you for all you have done to make this year as normal as possible for our students.”
He went on to say after the announcement, “We received funds from CARES one and two, and we have three coming in, but I asked our school board if we could use some of the money in this way. They agreed. We know our staff and faculty have had to put resources from their own pockets. So, we are happy to give each staff and faculty member $500 before spring break.”
