DEWAYNE HOLLOWAY/dewayne@mcnews.online
The Mount Ida School Board approved a mask wearing policy Monday night during their monthly meeting. They also discussed funding issues regarding the safe room project.
The meeting opened with the approval of the minutes from the July meeting and the July financial report.
During a brief review of the principal reports the board discussed the number of students choosing other forms of learning during the COVID-19 crisis and the financial affect it has on the district. The elementary school has eight students whose parents have decided to home school. Principal Donna Whisenhunt stated that there are also some students who are choosing to use virtual academies. Superintendent White shared that this is a problem in several districts in Arkansas. He cited the inability of families to access the internet as a primary reason for homeschooling. He explained that many of the students staying home are being helped with schoolwork by grandparents. Many of these grandparents struggle with navigating the online support provided by the school district. As a result, they are choosing to home school so they can use traditional pen and paper source material.
Principal Whisenhunt shared that each student lost to homeschooling meant a potential loss of funding for next year. It is possible that some students will return to school before the end of the school year.
The board also approved an updated school calendar and the transfer of two students from Caddo Hills School District.
Superintendent Mike White presented board members with a policy regarding the use of face coverings by students on school property. He explained that the policy follows state guidelines and includes a clearly defined series of punishments for noncompliance.
The face covering policy requires all students in grades 7-12 to wear masks following state mandated guidelines. This does exclude students with special needs, or those who have health issues which restrict the use of a face covering. Students seeking exclusion due to health reasons are required to submit documentation from a health care provider stating such.
Masks will be worn on campus until students sit at their desks in their classrooms. The teacher will instruct them if they can remove their masks in the classroom. Students will be required to put their masks on before leaving the classroom.
Elementary students in grades four through sixth grade will be required to wear masks following state mandated guidelines. Superintendent White explained that while some fourth graders are younger than 10 they felt all students in a classroom needed to wear masks to make the policy effective. He added that students are only required to wear face coverings when a social distance of six foot couldn’t be maintained. The exclusion for those with special needs and health issues also applies to elementary students.
Students in fourth through 12th grade are required to wear face coverings while riding buses. Families will sit together on the bus. Exclusions apply to bus riders.
A series of punishments are included in the policy for students who refuse to follow the face covering policy. A first offense will receive a verbal warning, while a second offense will result in a phone call to the student’s parent or guardian. A third offense will result in detention and a fourth offense will warrant two days detention. Habitual offenders will face in school suspension.
The board approved the most recent Ready for Learning Plan for the upcoming school year. The plan can be found on the school’s website. Students are given two learning options. They can choose in class learning, or virtual learning.
The board approved the transfer of $210,000 from the general fund to the building fund.
The board approved the bread bid submitted by Bob’s Food City.
The board discussed financial concerns regarding the safe room project at the elementary campus. Superintendent White shared that when the project began in 2017 a grant was applied for to cover 75 percent of the cost of the building. The school’s expected out of pocket cost was $170,000. Current estimates have the school’s out of pocket expenses at between $300K and $600K for a bare building construction. He explained that this didn’t include HVAC units, or the covered walkway.
Superintendent White stated that the school’s engineer told him that the grant application should have been based on a larger building cost estimate. The school can push back the project and reapply for a larger grant at a later date, but there is no guarantee when that would be possible.
Board member Phillip Carr reminded everyone that they were able to apply for the grant because of a tornado that hit the area. The grant they applied for has a window of opportunity that will close soon.
There was discussion that if classroom space was an issue then the district could consider purchasing a building similar to the new preschool building.
Mount Ida School Board approves mask policy
