The next Regular School Board meeting on Wednesday, October 20th will take place at 6:00pm in the Cowan Junior/Senior High School main gym due to a conflict in the cafeteria. Guests may enter through door #2.
OCTOBER 6, 2021 BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
Pledge of Allegiance
Adoption of Agenda
The agenda of the October 6, 2021 board meeting was approved as presented.
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the Regular Board meeting of September 15, 2021 were approved as presented.
Public Hearing
Hearing on the Tentative Agreement between Cowan Community Schools and the Cowan Community Classroom Teachers Association
Mr. Brown provided an overview of the tentative agreement with the teachers. There were no public comments regarding this agreement.
Reports: Superintendent – Mr. Timothy Brown
1. Brown showed the Board the current COVID dashboard on the website along with a comparison of positive cases and student close contacts since the mask mandate was put in place. Before the mask mandate, we had approximately 30% of positive cases come from school-identified close contacts. Since the mask mandate, we have had 20 additional cases of which none were school-identified close contacts. Additionally, since the mask mandate, 87 students have been identified as close contacts and have been able to stay in school due to universal masking. Currently we have 21 close contacts outside of school and 2 positive cases. Mr. Brown commented that everything to do with the mask mandate is about keeping kids in school.
2. Mr. Brown gave a small overview of the 2022 budget and CPF and Bus Replacement plans. These items are up for adoption later on in the agenda.
3. Mr. Brown went over the highlights and changes of the 2021-2022 support staff handbook which is being recommended for approval later in the agenda.
4. Mr. Brown informed the Board that the land rental auction was held today. John Hamilton was awarded a four-year agreement to lease the farm ground behind the high school.
5. Mr. Brown let the Board know that the ISBA Fall meeting will be in person at Willie and Red’s on Thursday, November 4, 2021.
6. Mr. Brown presented the professional leave requests approved as of Monday, October 4, 2021.
Opportunity for Public Comments
(No negative comments toward Corporation employees are permitted during the public meeting. Alleged misconduct by a Corporation employee is to be addressed in an Executive session of the Board following meeting with appropriate members of the Administration.)
Several parents, grandparents, and students were in attendance to give their thoughts, comments and statistics regarding mask choice for students.
Other parents were in attendance to give their thoughts on why we should keep the mask mandate in place to keep students safe.
Business Office Recommendations
Treasurer’s Report and Approval of Claim Docket
The claims #20309 to #20402 and the payrolls of September 17, 2021 and October 1, 2021 as listed in Appendix #2135 were approved for payment.
Adoption of 2022 Budgets, Bus Replacement Plan and Capital Projects Plan
The Board adopted the 2022 budgets as presented in Appendix #2136.
The Board approved the Resolution to Adopt the 2022 Capital Projects Plan as submitted in Appendix #2137.
The Board approved the Resolution to Adopt the 2022 Bus Replacement Plan as submitted in Appendix #2138.
The Board granted permission to the Superintendent to make the necessary adjustments to the 2021 and 2022 budgets during the budget process with the Department of Local Government Finance as submitted in Appendix #2139.
Support Staff Booklet
The Board approved the updated Support Staff Benefit Package for 2021-2022 as presented in Appendix #2140.
Personnel
Leaves
The Board approved a medical leave for Lauren Hatch from October 5 to October 25, 2021 with potential intermittent leave until November 30, 2021.
The Board approved a medical leave for Kim Trimble for up to 12 weeks beginning on August 31, 2021 and ending on November 23, 2021, if necessary.
Resignations
The Board approved the resignation of Paula Petsel as a grades 5-12 art teacher effective October 1, 2021.
The Board approved the resignation of Kay Collins as the Title I Aide effective October 7, 2021.
Employment
The Board approved Kimberly Dax as the grades 5-12 art teacher for the 2021-2022 school year to begin as soon as she is released from her previous school district.
The Board approved Amanda Howell as the Computer/Title I Aide effective October 7, 2021.
The Board approved Carleen Baldwin as the Varsity Assistant/Junior High Cheerleading Sponsor for the 2021-2022 school year.
The Board approved Timothy Arnold as the 7th Grade Girls Basketball Coach for the 2021-2022 school year.
Power Hour Tutoring
The Board approved up to 36 hours of tutoring for 5th and 6th grade teachers each grading period for the 2021-2022 school as assigned by the building principal.
Updated Return to School Plan
The Board approved to maintain the Return to School Plan face covering requirements for COVID-19 with an adjustment made to highly recommended for evening athletic and extracurricular events as presented in Appendix #2141.
Opportunity for Board Communication:
Mr. Rick Jones commented that when we look at other schools’ positive and close contact COVID cases we are comparing three feet to six feet options. We are 100% following the required guidelines. We need to be in school. Our decision for the mask mandate is based on keeping kids in school.
Mr. Alan Wright feels like his job is to keep kids in school. He doesn’t like the masks! He believes our kids can’t learn from home as well. He wants us to all remember that we will get through this. He tries to please everyone, but we are doing what we can to keep kids in school.
Adjournment
The October 6, 2021 regular board meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
Choose the meeting below to view previous meetings in a new window.
Highlights for September 15, 2021
Highlights for September 2, 2021
Highlights for August 18, 2021
Highlights for August 4, 2021