MV Board approves three-tier approach to battling COVID

Softball, baseball added to middle school sports program; early childhood building nearing completion
 
Middle School students in the Mt. Vernon School District will now be given the opportunity to take part in softball and baseball programs.
After much deliberation, the school board voted to add both sports to spring competition, allowing both seventh and eighth grade students to participate. Baseball and softball were the only two major sports without a middle school program to aid in development and preparation for high school teams.
Several community members, parents and students have shown an interest in having the two sports added to the school for quite some time.

District-wide projects happening
Jeremy Shivers, project manager from the CTS group, reported that the Early Childhood Center is nearing completion. The majority of the interior work has been finished and the exterior work is well on its way.
Shivers reported that the district custodial team was able to move in a large amount of furniture and supplies, following the completion of the summer school session on June 17 and 18.
Large changes are also underway at the high school, as old piping is being removed from the building as the ground source system is undergoing a complete renovation. The project is scheduled for completion in August.

COVID an issue, once again
After several months with minimal impact from COVID-19, the district saw a rise in cases and quarantines during summer school.
From May 21 to June 24, the district saw five positive cases and 23 students were placed in quarantine. Of those positive cases, four were staff and one was a student. Of those in quarantine, only one case was active.

Looking ahead
School officials are hoping that the major effects of COVID-19 are behind them and changes being made will help to aid in the upcoming school year returning to as normal as possible for both students and staff.
The board has voted to update the "District COVID-19 Continuity of Services Plan" in the event that impacts from the virus continue into the fall. (Updating and posting this plan is a requirement for the DIstrict to apply for American Rescue Plan and Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER III) ).
In July 2020, the board approved a three tiered approach to combating COVID-19.  The new plan included the addition of a fourth tier, currently referred to as Tier 2. The following preparations have been put into place:
-Voluntary masking at all grade levels.
-Inclusion of planned improvements to indoor air quality.
*The district plans to invest available ESSER III funds to install air purification technology in each HVAC unit in classrooms and common areas which will kill all viruses and allergens. This installation is already taking place at the high school as part of the ground source renovation.
-Stress the impact of vaccination on quarantine guidelines and provide access to vaccines for those who are interested.
*Guidelines from state and local health officials express that fully vaccinated students and staff will not be required to quarantine in the event they are exposed to COVID-19.
-Expand access to antigen testing in-district to include students.
*Last year these tests were only used for staff members.
-A shift to rely on Board Policy IGCD when considering virtual enrollment requests.
*The district approved all requests to participate in virtual education in the 2020-21 school year which was a departure from our typical policy.
*In 2021-22, Board Policy IGCD and its accompanying procedures and forms will be used to evaluate each student request to participate in virtual education to determine if the change would be in the best educational interest of our students.
-A brief discussion of the district’s planned response to distance learning for students who are quarantined.
*The entire revised plan is available for access on the front page of the district website.

Board approves stipends for previous volunteer positions
The board approved two new $500 stipends for the High School Art Club and Archery Club sponsors. The workload that comes along with these two positions has increased and therefore called for an attached stipend. Both of these positions were previously filled by volunteers.

Board approves proposed staff salary/welfare proposal for upcoming school year
It is expected that state revenue will be relatively flat, projected local assessed valuation numbers are expected to rise due to the county reassessment occurring in 2021. Due to this anticipated increase, the following salary provisions were proposed and accepted by the board:
-Movement for Experience and Education on all salary schedules (approximately 2 percent on most schedules);   
-The addition of $500 to the base salary on professional salary schedule (1.5 percent increase);
-An increase to the base pay on custodial salary schedule to $12/hour (8.5 percent increase);
-A 1.5 percent increase in base pay for other Support Staff Salary Schedules;
-Continuation of the STEPS Program;
-Continuation of Insurance Contribution Rate including a wellness incentive of $809.16 for staff participating in district wellness activities;
-A 3.5 percent increase for those not on salary schedule (corresponding to the 1.5% base pay increase for other staff combined with the approximate 2 percent increase included in schedule movement).
The board approved an agreement with CoxHealth for 2021-22 to provide free, onsite, virtual medical visits to all professional and support staff members and their dependents.  These virtual visits will be free of charge regardless of the employee’s insurance provider. 
In Executive Closed Session
-Sue Barb is retiring from her position as Data Coordinator effective at the end of this month. Barb has served the district in several capacities since accepting her first position in 1984. She has been the District Data Coordinator for the past 11 years.
-Olivia Ramsey Witherspoon was granted approval to resign from her contract. Witherspoon was approved in April as the fifth grade math teacher at the Intermediate School. 
-The board approved Amy Smith to fill the position of fifth grade math teacher. Smith brings 24 years of experience including elementary and special education classroom experience; special education process coordination; and administration as an assistant and head principal. Smith worked most recently as a special education teacher in Neosho.
-The board Approved Cameron Brewer for the freshmen baseball coach position and Kaleb Cason for the seventh grade baseball coach position.
The next meeting of the Mount Vernon R-V Board of Education will be at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 22, in the District Office Board Room.