POLAND — To stand united with teachers and other faculty reporting to work, board of education members from the Poland Local Schools will continue meetings in person.

“Teachers are teaching in the schools… If our teachers can show up, we can show up too. Until that changes and we’re mandated to stay away, we’re going to do what we can to continue to support our teaching staff,” Greg Riddle, president of the board, said this week.

Board members unanimously decided during a work session to continue in-person meetings.

Interim Superintendent Edwin Holland said that unless a “catastrophic event” unfolds, the board will continue to meet. “Our goal is to do as much in-person as we can,” Holland said.

Meetings also are streamed to the district’s website.

Holland also initiated a conversation regarding the upcoming search for a permanent superintendent.

Although it’s November, Holland, who came on board after David Janofa announced his intent to retire as superintendent, told board members that planning will get underway in the near future for a new district leader.

“I want to be able to help you in any direction, in any assistance that I can,” Holland said.

In January, Holland will begin to work with the board to discuss planning a search as well as keeping the public informed on the process.

“Our goal is for the start of the new school year to have a new superintendent in place by Aug. 1,” Holland said.

Holland said he hopes the board engages the public by getting input on what the community will be looking for in a superintendent.

Also during the work session, Janofa, who is assisting Holland with the transition into interim superintendent until February, briefed the board on various updates around the district.

An order was placed in March at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic for Chromebooks.

Those devices have finally arrived, Janofa said. The district purchased 376 Chromebooks, which will stay in each classroom for grades pre-kindergarten through fifth.

The board of education will meet for its regular meeting Nov. 23.

afox@tribtoday.com