Delegation Asks Board for Contracts for Aides

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor
   Monies to extend benefits to some 90 instructional aides in the Buchanan County School System who are currently not on contract status will be sought from the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors.
  Members of the Buchanan County School Board agreed to request the funding to be able to offer the aides a contract Monday night after Eugene Stacy, a parent of a student who has benefited from the services of an aide, and Tina Fuller, who is an aide in the Council area, spoke about the topic on behalf of aides from each of the county’s schools.
  A standing room only crowd of aides and others were in attendance at Monday night’s meeting.
  Stacy called aides “the glue that holds the schools together” and he pointed out that contrary to what some might believe, they are far more than babysitters to a child in need.  He added not only do they help particular children in the school system who need services, but he said they are also called upon to perform other tasks as well.
  “They are part doctor, part teacher . . . and I want you to take into consideration how valuable aides are to our schools,” Stacy urged.
  But despite the fact that they work with some of the students most in need in the school system, Stacy said, somebody “flipping burgers” makes more than an aide without a contract.
  “I’m sure there is a pool you can draw from,” Stacy said.
  He said he had spoken with two members of the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors – Knox Supervisor Pat Justus and North Grundy Supervisor Carroll Branham -- both of whom he said recognized the value of aides.
  South Grundy School Board Member David Thornbury asked Superintendent Tommy P. Justus what his recommendation would be.
  Justus said the school system did not currently have the money to be able to offer a contract to aides, but he said it was an item that could be looked at before the next budget is adopted.
  “We can look to try to plan it in the operating budget for next year,” Justus said.
  Pat Justus, who attended Monday’s meeting, asked why it is that some aides have contracts while others do not.
  Tommy Justus replied that some who have contracts are paid through the Title I program.
  Currently, non-contract aides are paid either $42 or $49 per day for their services based on their educational backgrounds and based on a seven-hour day which amounts to a wage of $6 per hour, school officials noted. Minimum wage is $5.15 per hour. Aides without a contract do not receive benefits in the way of health insurance, retirement, vacation or sick days.
  Stacy suggested that nothing compares to a child and he said while coal, timber and gas are all natural resources in the county, children, he said are the county’s “most valuable asset.”
  Teachers and aides, he said, help to make “responsible contributing adults in our county.”
  He asked the school board if they could seek funding for the aides from the board of supervisors and said he would be glad to go to a board meeting in support of the request, as would others in the room.
  “Take it to the board of supervisors and we’ll find out who is with us and who is against us,” Stacy said.
  He suggested that wording could be placed in any contract agreed to that makes it plain to an aide signing it that if the child to whom they are assigned leaves school for any reason, their contract with the school system ends.
  “Fair treatment for aides is what we’re asking for,” Stacy said.
  Thornbury made the motion to go to the board of supervisors and request the funding needed to offer aides in the school system a contract. Prater School Board Member Bill Crigger seconded the motion.

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Ladybug 'Invasion' Of Area Homes Just Part of Fall

by Scotty Wampler
Staff Reporter 
  With the arrival of fall has come the invasion of the ladybugs and a number of homeowners have complained in the past two weeks that the number of bugs this year seems worse than usual as they attempt to get rid of the bugs which are now making their way indoors.
  The sheer numbers seen by some this year have caused some to speculate they've been released, however, a local Extension Agent said Monday there is no truth to that.
  "To my knowledge, nobody is releasing these," Brad Miller, a Dickenson County Extension Agent, said when asked about the cold-weather influx of ladybugs in the area.
  However, he agreed, "It seems like there are more this fall."
  Miller also serves Buchanan County.
  Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles, (sometimes called Japanese Lady Beetles) typically start moving into houses and have a peak of activity on or just after October 15 in Virginia, according to information from the Virginia Cooperative Extension. The beetles do not mate or reproduce in the house and many hibernate inside walls. A second peak of activity occurs in late March as they attempt to work their way outside. Working their way into the living quarters in an attempt to get out of the house, the beetles find the heated portions of the home simply too warm and dry, and most die out in a matter of days.
  In October, the beetles enter houses through small openings around windows, doors and utility access points, according to the Extension Office. In addition, they can enter houses through cracks in the siding and trim and through attic vents. Sealing those entry sites is the best recommended method of preventing the insects from becoming indoor pests.
  "I recommend everybody go around the house and seal up the cracks," Miller suggested.
  Miller's office recommends homeowners conduct a thorough energy audit of their homes, as places where cold air can enter the house are places where the beetles can gain access. All cracks and leaks should be filled with a quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk, he advised.
  Miller said insecticides shouldn't be used once the beetles have made their way indoors. The most effective means of combating the problem, he said, is to simply pick up the beetles with a vacuum cleaner and properly dispose of the bag to ensure the beetles do not escape back into the home.
  Indoors, windows and doors should be sealed with weather stripping to help prevent the beetles from entering the home. Log home owners should seal between logs for best results.
  "The big thing is they're not a disease carrier," Miller added.

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Halloween Observance Set Tuesday, Oct. 31

by JoBeth Wampler
Staff Reporter
   Members of Grundy's Town Council agreed earlier this month to set the observance of Halloween on the holiday's traditional date.
  Trick-or-treat hours will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 31.
  Buchanan County will observe the same date and trick-or-treat hours.
  Some Halloween safety tips were also offered by law enforcement officials who said patrols will be stepped up throughout the area in an effort to curb the vandalism which has come to be associated with Halloween in recent years.
  Additional tips offered were as follows:
  Motorists are encouraged to watch for children darting out from between parked cars and walking on roadways, medians and curbs. Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully. And at twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing.
  Homeowners are reminded to leave their porch light on if they are participating in the custom of trick-or-treating.
  With the bewitching season upon us, the National Safety Council has issued these tips to make Halloween safer for the whole family:
  • Make sure that an adult or an older responsible youth will be supervising the outing for children under age 12.
  • Flashlights are a good way to help children see better and be seen more clearly.
  • Costumes should be made of fire-retardant material and loose enough that warm clothing may be worn underneath.
  • Costumes should be made of light-colored material or retro-reflective strips should be worn to make children visible.
  • Costumes should not be so long that they are a tripping hazard, as falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries on Halloween.
  While your little ghosts and ghouls are out, the National Safety Council recommends children should understand these rules:
  • Do not enter homes or apartments without adult supervision.
  • Walk, do not run, from house to house. Do not cross yards or lawns, where unseen objects or uneven terrain can present tripping hazards.
  • Walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic if there are no sidewalks.
  • Insist that treats be brought home for inspection before anything is eaten. And if your child brings home fruit as a Halloween treat, be sure to wash it thoroughly before allowing children to ingest it.
  First and foremost, the National Safety Council says when in doubt, throw it out. Nothing is worth the safety of your children.
  Halloween is a cherished tradition, but the excitement of the night can cause children to forget to be careful. And though there is no "trick" to making Halloween a "treat" for the whole family, these tips should make the holiday a little safer.

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