OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Fredonia Board of Education President Brian Aldrich speaks during Tuesday’s board meeting.

In addition to recent teaching hires, the creation of new positions to fill previously unmet needs in the district were also addressed at a Fredonia Board of Education meeting this month.

A position titled extended leave substitute was approved. This position is to fill an extended absence of a teacher short of the 90-day requirement for a traditional long-term substitute teacher.

“This addresses a need that has come up in the district repeatedly over the last year and a half,” said Fredonia Superintendent Brad Zilliox. “Occasionally we have these scenarios that come up in which we need somebody for an extended period of time, but not quite 90 days, but we need them to fulfill the role of teacher in terms of lesson planning, grading, and putting data in our systems. We really haven’t had a clean way to do this that makes sense.”

Zilliox said the position will pay a “happy medium” between a per diem substitute rate and a long-term substitute rate, at $175 per day for a certified substitute and $165 if uncertified. Fredonia will now move forward with the job posting process.

Fredonia also approved the appointment of Jessica Gugino as a Surrogate Parent for Special Education Students.

“Every once in a while – it doesn’t happen very often – we run into a situation where a student does not have a parent that could or is able to represent them, so we have people approved should that unique and rare situation come up,” said Zilliox. “After getting to know her, I feel really good about Jessica being on board should that need arise.”

“I think it’s important that we realize that we are advocating for our students here,” added Board of Education President Brian Aldrich.