Staff Report

PIERCETON – Whitko Community School Corporation is offering $100 to any staff who is vaccinated for COVID-19.

Steve Darnell, the district’s interim superintendent, is encouraging all employees to participate.

“As an incentive for getting the vaccination, we will use federal CARES funds to offer a $100 stipend to ALL employees getting vaccinated,” Darnell said in a newsletter to staff.

“I encourage you to take advantage of the $100 stipend to be vaccinated. Together, as Americans, we can combat this virus directly through following CDC practices and protocols … including the now available vaccines. Each step we take moves us ALL forward to returning to a broader sense of normalcy we had a year ago,” Darnell said.

After receiving the full vaccination (either one-shot or two depending upon the brand of the vaccine), staff can turn in a copy of the CDC card showing you are fully vaccinated along with a completed claim voucher to Vicki Camden. The stipend will be processed as additional pay during the next payroll.

Anyone who has already been vaccinated can also turn in the required paperwork to receive the $100 stipend.

The newsletter points out that starting Monday, March 15, vaccinations will be available for all K-12 educational personnel, creating the opportunity for all staff (teachers, instructional assistants, secretaries, bus drivers, food service, custodians, administrators, etc.) to receive the vaccine as soon as appointments are available.

The school district is also working with Meijer to schedule onsite clinics for vaccinations at Pierceton Elementary and Whitko Jr-Sr High School. Details have not yet been released.