While some other districts in the state may be scrambling to determine ways to pay non-certified personnel during the shutdown caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, El Reno Public Schools has its employees breathing a bit easier.

“While it’s a big deal for other districts, it’s not for us,” said Superintendent Craig McVay.

McVay said a procedure established after the ice storms in 2014 allows the district to pay all district employees even if school is not in session.

The procedure covers all noncertified personnel such as custodians, teachers aides, office staff and bus drivers that are on full-time status with the district.

“We pay everyone on our payroll when it’s something that is out of their hands. All 397 of our employees will get paid,” said McVay.

The procedure was approved by auditors, but there must be drastic supporting documentation to make it legal. McVay said he used the state of emergency declarations made by El Reno Mayor Matt White and similar ones issued by Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and President Donald Trump.

“That’s city, state and federal declarations. If that’s not good enough for an auditor somewhere, then I don’t know what is. Right now we are covered by what was passed and approved by our auditor seven years ago, but there has to be proof that we cannot go to school,” said McVay.

Certified staff such as administrators, teachers and principals were never in jeopardy of not getting paid. They are protected under Oklahoma state law.

The procedure does not cover daily or long-term substitute teachers or bus drivers that are part time or temporary status.

McVay said he can understand any frustrations those people may have for the extended break and missing paychecks.

“We feel for them and if we have something they can do, we are reaching out to those people. Our substitute teachers provide a service that is important to us but we don’t have anything in the law that covers them when they do not work.”

When the procedure, called Paid Administrative Leave, is enacted, McVay said he must designate a group of 25 employees as “essential personnel” and that group comes to work as needed and when it’s safe.

That group usually includes himself and Assistant Superintendent Matt Goucher along with principals and child nutrition services among others.

“It’s a skeleton crew to keep the district running over a period of time. We don’t want employees forced into an unsafe environment,” said McVay.

The procedure will stay in place through April 5 and will be revisited again if the school district remains closed past that day.

“No one wants to cancel school but we want to make sure that our buildings are shuttered and safe but not in a way that everyone is exposed to any possible harm,” said McVay.