The Motley school building will have a full time school social worker as a result of action taken at a special meeting of the Staples Motley School Board Sept. 9.

The meeting was originally scheduled to canvas the election returns from the Sept. 8 building maintenance levy vote. The discussion on the school social worker position was added at the request of the board's finance committee.

That committee had met with the leadership group from the Motley Staples

Middle School and Motley

Elementary School to gain "an understanding of what

services were missing," according to Mary Freeman, one of the board members on the finance committee.

"It was very clear they are very much in need of a full time social worker, especially in the area of

special needs student

groups," Freeman said, "and also to diffuse situations

in the office if the principal is not present."

"The half time social worker last year didn't work out very well," added Barb Schmitt, another board member on the committee, saying many times the person was not there when needed.

The Motley building has had a full time social worker in the past, but that position was cut to half time for the 2008-09 school year as a budget saving measure.

Superintendent Mark Schmitz noted that the current budget fund balance gives the district "a little flexibility."

"I believe the position is important enough at this time to spend out of fund balance," Schmitt said.

"If we don't meet the needs of those kids, they

won't be here in high

school," Freeman added. "This position provides

a relationship link. It's a wise investment in the long run."The motion passed unanimously.