BOE Report – October 19 and October 26, 2020
The Board of Education met on October 19th, via Zoom.
Dr. McKersie reiterated the health district is in full support of full return to in person learning. Even with the metrics creeping up. The district (students, families and staff) understands that wearing masks in school and families performing their own health checks at home are of utmost importance. Dr. McKersie praised the districts excellence at containing any positive cases and tracking. He emphasized that there are really great systems and protocols in place.
As of the date of the meeting, the number of Voluntary Distance Learners (VDL) were at the lowest level, 261 student.
Ken Craw spoke to the full return starting Monday, October 26th. Mr. Craw said the Full Return in the Fall of 2020 is going to look different than the Fall of 2019. The desks will spread out as much as possible, integrating the VDL remote learners as part of the class, involved and interacting. They understand screen time is an issue. VDL students will be part of the class but periodically they will be working on their own without a screen, reading/math/specials. He emphasized that there will be breaks from the screen.
There was a scheduled VDL parent-guardian informational meeting on Thursday, October 22nd which answered questions that were presented by parents/guardians. Wednesday afternoons remain check in time for VDL students through December.
Tracy Edwards recognized the efforts of the entire special education staff, teachers and advisors. They have come together for a monumental task. Evaluations were conducted with a record number of PPTs. Special Education work is aligned with general education work. When the district shifted to Full Return, all of the support times for students had to change to adjust to the new schedule.
Phil Cross updated the board with the new traffic plan for the afternoon. The change to traffic patterns was due to the backup at Hurlbutt. K-1 pick up will remain the same, through the bus depot, 2-5 will drive through School Road to WIS or to HES. (You can refer to the email from Mr. Cross dated 10/19 for more information)
Mrs. Kaddis and Mrs. Falber praised their staff for all of the work they have put forth into planning and making classrooms ready for a full return. Desks will be spaced as far apart as possible in classrooms. Lunch has been adjusted at Hurlbutt, K-1 will remain in the classroom for lunch and 2nd grade will eat lunch out of their classrooms. For WIS, lunch will be rotated in the cafetorium and cleaned in between shifts. The staff is working hard to finalize schedules for special education class, interventionists and VDL meaningful brakes.
The Board of Education met on October 26th, via Zoom. The purpose of this meeting was to approve the formation of a search committee for a new Superintendent. The committee was approved and will begin their search shortly.
The next regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting will be Monday, November 16th.
All Board of Education meetings can be viewed on their YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfiS5TdWMVozkWFY1FS3knw
Julie Ruby
WIS PTO BOE Representative
