Students at all three schools in the McKenzie Special School District will have their temperatures checked every day until the end of school.
A motion by board member Lashonda Williams to this effect was passed during the Oct. 6 school board meeting.
The fact that the elementary and middle schools have not been testing students every day prompted board member Karen Fowler to ask that the matter be placed on the agenda for discussion.
“The high school has continued to take temperatures,” said director of schools Lynn Watkins, noting the elementary school stopped the procedure and then started back and that the middle school did checking most days, but not every day.
“It’s not an issue since the plan the board passed is being followed,” said Watkins.
At the beginning of the outbreak of COVID 19 in March, the plan said: For the first four weeks of school, temperature checks will occur for every student and adult entering the buildings. After the first four weeks of school, the frequency of student temperature checks (1-5 days/week) for each school will depend upon the number of high temperature readings in each school.
For students, the school guidelines to check temperatures will be based on the school’s clinic data and the following recommendations.
They include: low or no incidence of temperature readings, one day per week; moderate incidence of temperature readings, 2-3 days per week; high incidence of temperature readings or confirmed case of COVID 19 in the school, five days per week, and additional temperature readings as needed throughout the day.
The new guidelines say: For the 20-21 school year, temperature checks will occur for every student and adult entering the buildings. Families will be asked to be mindful and engage in daily health checks.
Board members agreed it is a good thing to do the temperatures as it brings peace of mind and makes people comfortable.
Parents are urged to not send their children to school if they are sick.
Middle School principal Dorethea Royle said she could count on her hand how many has had higher than normal fever. Those students were referred to the school’s health clinic for further observation.
High school principal Kelly Spivey said the high school had never stopped taking the students’ temperatures.
“We take precaution, and we think it’s worth it,” said Spivey.
During the meeting, new board member George Cassidy was administered the oath of office by Watkins. He will be serving out Norman French’s unexpired term.
Tenure was granted to teachers Beth Mathis and Billie Jo Hardwick. They have completed their fifth year of teaching and received 4’s or 5’s on their summative evaluation scores the past two years.
Three budget amendments passed that added money to the school district’s funds.
Revenue in the amount of $40,000 was added through a federal grant for electronic textbooks, software, and instructional equipment. A $35,000 federal grant will purchase more instructional equipment for remote learning technology. A total of $1,229,341.10 was also received that will be spent on federal projects.
Approval was given to the annual Report of School System/School Compliance for 2020-2021. Watkins said the school district is in compliance with the state school board rules, regulations and minimum standards.
SRO Nick Lowe, elementary school principal Tonya Brown, middle school principal Dorethea Royle and high school principal Kelly Spivey were appointed to one-year terms to the school district’s District Disciplinary Hearing Authority.
In the director’s report, Watkins said he had employed Mike Fowler as a part-time maintenance person. He announced the Nov. 3 board meeting would be cancelled. The next regular board meeting would be Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m.
In the consent agenda that was passed, a number of items were declared as surplus.
