Furloughs look likely at C-R

12/30/2020

By Jim Poole

Furloughs may be coming for some Cobleskill-Richmondville employees if the school district goes to remote classes in the coming semester.
Furloughs are likely if C-R switches to remote for more than two weeks, Superintendent Carl Mummenthey told school board members last week.
Like many districts, C-R has alternated between in-school and remote learning in the fall because the quarantining of employees leaves the district understaffed.
Rising COVID and quarantine numbers this season mean longer remote periods may be necessary––something Mr. Mummenthey doesn’t want.
“We’re doing everything we can over the [holiday] break to open our doors January 4,” he said.
Health experts have predicted a possible spike in illnesses after the holidays, when families normally gather, another worry.
Mr. Mummenthey couldn’t give a number of employees furloughed if it comes to that, but said that bus drivers, teaching aides and assistants and food service workers may be among them.
The difference between a furlough and a layoff, he added, is that a furlough is short-term “with expectations of returning to work.”
Also, furloughed employees keep their health insurance and can apply for unemployment insurance.
It’s possible that employees at one school building may be furloughed and those at others wouldn’t be, depending on staffing levels, Mr. Mummenthey said.
Lately, C-R has had about 20 staffers quarantined or absent.
“It’s a significant number,” Mr. Mummenthey said.
Putting employees out of work––even temporarily––has a direct impact on local businesses, Mr. Mummenthey said.
“We recognize our role as an employer,” he added.
Yet one more concern is the impact a longer remote period has on families. For young students at Ryder or Radez elementary schools, remote learning means one or both parents lose work time by staying home.
Also, elementary students respond better to in-school classes.
“Younger students at Ryder and Radez need our [in-school] support,” Mr. Mummenthey said, “and their parents can go to work.
“We’ll do everything we can to keep our team together. Furloughs will be only out of necessity.”