Galesburg Reporter

Monmouth-Roseville Community Unit School District #238 Board of Education met July 16.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

Call to Order/Roll Call The Monmouth-Roseville C.U.S.D. #238 Board of Education met in a special meeting on Thursday, July 16, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room at 105 North E Street, Monmouth, IL. The roll was read and the following Members responded: Brooks, Froelich, Killey, Sells, Watson and Bratcher. Member Trego was absent. (6). Roll call #1.

Pledge of Allegiance President Killey led the Members and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Public Comments The following individuals addressed the Board expressing concerns with the reopening of buildings for the 2020-2021 school year: Kylee Robbins and Deb Smith.

New Business Superintendent Fletcher presented the following resolution to the Board for their consideration:

RESOLUTION AFFIRMING TRANSITION TO SCHOOL PLAN FOR THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR

WHEREAS, the Board of Education of Monmouth-Roseville CUSD #238 School District (the "Board") is empowered to conduct the business of Monmouth-Roseville CUSD #238 School District (the "District") pursuant to various provisions of the Illinois School Code;

WHEREAS, the District has and continues to navigate how best to meet the educational needs of its students in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic;

WHEREAS, the District has embraced the June 18, 2020 education omnibus legislation (Public Act PA 101-0643) permitting blended remote learning and the June 23, 2020 ISBE/DPH Joint Guidance "Starting the 2020-21 School Year” (the "Joint Guidance") with the objective to transition back to in person-based instruction;

WHEREAS, the Joint Guidance acknowledges the educational benefits of in-person instruction and emphasizes COVID-19's effect on exacerbating societal inequities, and provides recommendations and guidance for school districts to implement in returning to in-person instruction and to ensure the safety of students, staff, and their families;

WHEREAS, consistent with the Joint Guidance, the District has created a transition planning team which has reviewed data on student attendance, engagement and academic success in determining the effectiveness of remote learning to inform the District on developing an equity-based blended remote learning plan for the 2020-2021 school year;

WHEREAS, consistent with the Joint Guidance, the District has undertaken a review of its facilities and ability to provide for safety restrictions including space capacity and social distancing relative to a transition back to in-person instruction;

WHEREAS, the District has discretion and flexibility under the Joint Guidance in implementing the recommendations and guidance to return to in-person instruction in a safe manner;

WHEREAS, the Joint Guidance recommendation for in-person instruction, the public health of the community and the District's goal to ensure the safety of students, staff, and their families present competing policy objectives; and

WHEREAS, the District has developed a plan for a transition back to in-person instruction which seeks to achieve the competing policy objectives to the extent possible.

NOW THEREFORE, be it Resolved by the Board as follows:

1. The Board affirms the recommended direction for a broad-based plan for the transition back to in person instruction for the 2020-2021 school year (the "Transition Plan") consistent with the Joint Guidance and with the health and safety protocols issued by IDPH.

2. The Transition Plan provides School will open for students on August 19, 2020. We will be running an early dismissal schedule from August 19, 2020 to September 18,2020. Schools will be released as the following times: Junior High (1:10), Lincoln, Harding and Central (1:20) and the high school (1:30). The release times may change based on negotiations with the Monmouth-Roseville Education Association. This schedule will be in place until Friday, September 18th. If needed, the ending day of the early release (September 18th) may be extended after consultation between the Board of Education and Monmouth-Roseville Education Association. Students will attend schools 5 days per week with shortened school days (please see above). Students choosing to learn via remote instruction must do so for the whole first semester (no exceptions). A student can choose to switch to remote learning at any time (only if we are in full in-person instruction), but students will not be able to switch from remote learning to in person learning after their decision has been made. All students, whether they are attending school remotely or on site for in-person instruction, are expected to be present for class for whatever delivery they have chosen, shall be in attendance daily if on site for in-person instruction, and shall be participant and attendant daily for remote learning classes. Students not attending school for in-person instruction or not complying with safety rules and directives will be moved to remote learning plans. Because face coverings are required at all times in school buildings, medical contra indications will generally mean that students are unable to engage in the on-site program, but student education plans and accommodations for students with medical notes prohibiting face covering will be developed on a case-by-case basis. Grading practices will return to normal. Students participating via remote learning will be responsible for attendance and class assignments in the same manner as students receiving in school instruction. Back to school nights will be done virtually or in small groups. Everyone, including visitors, is required to wear a face covering at all times within any school building. Building administrators and teachers are working together to plan several times for students to go outside and socially distance sufficiently to remove face coverings." Parent certification that the student is temperature and COVID19 symptom free will be required on a daily basis. We will do temperature checks throughout the day. Any student with a temperature of 100.4 degrees will be sent home. A student COVID-19 School Exclusion chart will be sent to parents before school starts. If a parent knowingly sends their child to school with COVID-19 symptoms the school district reserves the right to place the student in remote learning for the remainder of the semester. If a student/employee tests positive for COVID19, we will follow the Illinois Department of Health guidelines for student exclusion from school. Students/employees that were in close contact (defined as, within six feet, for more than fifteen minutes) of an individual with a positive COVID 19 test or suspected of having COVID 19 will be required to self-quarantine based on contact tracing. Social distancing in school will include classroom seating as far apart as possible, no groupings/gatherings of more than 50 individuals at any one time, single direction sides of hallways and possibly staggered class dismissals. Transportation will be limited to 50 students per bus. We encourage you to consider transporting your student(s) if you have the ability to do so. Breakfast and lunch will be served at each school. A more detailed plan is currently being developed by each school administrator. Additional classroom/building cleaning protocols will be in place.

3. The Transition Plan will seek to achieve an appropriate level of in-person instruction while observing the health and safety protocols issued by the Illinois Department of Health. The Transition Plan will be equitably based, addressing the needs of all students and providing appropriate support for those students who are disadvantaged by societal conditions.

The Transition Plan will provide for measures to be undertaken in the event Illinois moves back into Phase 3 and Phase 2 of the Restore Illinois Plan. 6. The District's Superintendent shall have the authority to further develop and implement the plan consistent with the parameters set forth herein; consistent with further guidance from the State of Illinois and consistent with the Illinois School Code. In developing and implementing the plan, the District's Superintendent shall balance the competing policy objectives of returning to in-person instruction, controlling the communication of disease within the community, and the general safety of students, staff, and their families, and consider each policy with respect to efficiency, District resources, and the general welfare of the District's community. Other employees of the District that determine policy or exercise discretion for the District shall also consider these policies and interests when determining which steps or

measures to implement to best serve these interests. 8. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect upon its adoption.

ADOPTED this 16 day of July_2020 by the following roll call vote:

Ayes: 6 Nays: 0 Absent: 1

Karin Killy

President

f. Sills

Attest:

Secretary

After much discussion it was moved by Member Bratcher to adopt the resolution affirming transition to school plan for the 2020-2021 school year. Member Froelich seconded the motion. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Froelich, Killey, Sells, Watson, Bratcher, and Brooks (6). Motion carried. Roll call #2

Board Comments

The Board thanked the audience for their attendance and input. Member Brooks shared his motivation for his vote in support of school reopening and support of a safe return plan for all.

Closed Session At 7:29 p.m. Member Brooks moved to enter into closed session and Member Killey seconded the motion. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Killey, Sells, Watson, Bratcher, Brooks, and Froelich (6). Motion carried. Roll call #3

At 8:01 p.m. Member Bratcher moved and Member Watson seconded a motion to return to Open Session. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Sells, Watson, Bratcher, Brooks, Froelich and Killey (6). Motion carried. Roll call #4

Adjournment Seeing no other business President Killey asked for a motion to adjourn and Member Brooks moved to adjourn the meeting. Member Froelich seconded the motion. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Watson, Bratcher, Brooks, Froelich, Killey, and Sells (6). Motion carries. Roll call #5.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O7fKlQ8P3tbEnvxy4cvQGDecfe4wBrQhjg4COlOrgSo/edit