Stephens Co. BOE To Add Elementary School Receptionists

The Stephens County School System is going to look to add back one receptionist’s position for each of the county’s elementary schools.

On Tuesday, the Stephens County Board of Education voted unanimously to approve advertising for and then adding the position for each of the schools.

The positions had been cut as part of school system budget cuts over the past year or so.

However, Stephens County School Superintendent Bryan Dorsey said that as the situation improves financially, he feels these are a position that needs to be re-instated.

“Our bookkeeper is trying to pull off being the receptionist and that is the only person there with the principal,” said Dorsey.

Dorsey said he feels it is important to be careful about adding positions.

He said these receptionist positions are important, however, for multiple reasons.

“Just for overall safety,” said Dorsey. “Listening to principals, listening to teachers, listening to parents, that extra body, in particular if someone is out or on a lunch break, that has been a struggle for those folks.”

Dorsey went on to say that the receptionist positions would not be paid as much as those positions were prior to the school system cuts.

“We would be putting them on a parapro pay schedule,” said Dorsey.

As the board approved the move, Dorsey explained that the school system would begin advertising the jobs immediately.

He said that the goal would be to fill the positions next month.

Tuesday also marked the final Board of Education meeting at the Mize Road Administrative Office location.

Starting in January, the school board meetings will move to the new administrative offices at the old Big A School.

The school system’s administrative offices moved to the old Big A School last month.