Carmi-White County Community Unit District No. 5 Board of Education met Aug. 10.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The special meeting of the board of education of Carmi-White County Unit District No. 5 was held at the Carmi-White County Junior/Senior High School auditorium. The meeting was called to order by Pete Fulkerson at 5:37 p.m.
Those present were board members Ackerman, Acord, Fulkerson, Mitchell, Scates and Westfall. Others present were Superintendent Brad Lee; Dr. Amy Dixon, principal at Jefferson and Lincoln Attendance Centers; Amy Atteberry, Washington Attendance Center principal; Bart King, junior high school principal; Jarrod Newell, high school principal; Kathy Price, Brownsville Attendance Center principal; Lacey Moore, elementary dean of students; Todd Haley, junior/senior high school dean of students; Corey Ackerman, CWCEA President; Dee Stone, Support Staff Union President; Jeff Funk, School Attorney; Rachel Blazier, Unit Secretary; J.C. Tinsley, WROY/WRUL; Len Wells, reporter at Carmi Chronicle; and Kathy Sands, The Villager’s Voice. Audience attendees included Alex Altmann, Melissa Altmann, Denton Aud, Dusty Aud, Michelle Burzynski, Jason Carter, Cindy Colman, Scott Conner, Eric Cox, Sabrina Cox, Todd, Drone, Ryan Evans, Kelly Fulkerson, Cathleen Garner, Matthew Garner, Chance Hargrave, Emily Hargrave, Kenneth Hargrave, Doug Hays, Pamela Haywood, John Hubele, Rachelle Hubele, Will Knight, Aaron O’Daniel, Lora O’Daniel, Chris Pollard, Kate Simmons, Adam Spence, Angela Spence, John Stockton, Suzy Tomm, Adam Winkleman and Jana Winkleman.
PUBLIC COMMUNICATION WITH THE BOARD
Board President Fulkerson opened the special meeting by welcoming all attendees to the meeting and introducing Jeff Funk, district school attorney. He explained that anyone attending the meeting will have a turn addressing the board, which will be limited to five minutes. After all comments have been made, Jeff Funk, district school attorney will also address the board.
Attendees were instructed that any public comments concerning personnel of the district should be made in closed session of the board.
DISCUSSION OF 2021-2022 RETURN TO SCHOOL PLAN
Board President Fulkerson explained that the special meeting was called to discuss the 2021-2022 Return to School Plan. The start of school begins Thursday, August 12, 2021, for C-WC #5 staff. The students’ first attendance day is Monday, August 16. C-WC #5 board of
education needs to discuss and approve a Return to School Plan for the 2021-2022 school year. A plan for Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services was provided to the board and made available for attendees of the meeting. This plan was developed to align with the latest guidance issued by Governor Pritzker on August 4, 2021. Board President Fulkerson opened the floor by asking if anyone in the audience would like to comment.
Mrs. Angela Spence, parent of an eighth grade student, advocated for the choice of remote learning. She feels that in-person learning will cause too many interruptions due to quarantines caused by close contacts due to COVID-19.
Mr. Matt Garner asked the board who makes the rules for which the Return to School Plan is based upon and what would be discipline to a student if he/she failed to comply with wearing a mask. He asked if a student would be allowed to remove his/her mask to speak. Board President Fulkerson answered that the student would be allowed to remove his/her mask to speak. Superintendent Lee answered by saying his concern was a valid question on failure to comply. He explained that the discipline for failure to comply would look different for first and second graders as compared to high school students. However, discipline should be the same for all students in the same building.
Mr. Garner asked for explanation of item 2 in the Return to School Plan. It reads, “Vaccinated students and adults who were a close contact, but remain asymptomatic do not have to quarantine, upon proof of vaccination.” He asked how this wording was developed. Superintendent Lee explained that all information in the Return to School Plan was compiled from information the district has received from the Illinois Department of Health, CDC, the Governor’s office, and the local health department. He explained that the Return to School Plan that was presented at this meeting could be reviewed and modified at the board’s discretion.
Mr. Garner asked if the district could provide a non-negligence agreement for the parents to sign that would allow masks to be optional for their student(s). Mr. Funk answered wearing a mask by every person that enters a school building is a mandate that was issued by the governor and he has the authority to issue this mandate. The Illinois State Board of Education could remove a school’s recognition status, which could result in the school losing state aide (money that comes from the State) and students not being allowed to participate in sports. Another risk of a school allowing students to not wear masks is the liability of someone allegedly contracting COVID-19 at school. Insurance policies excludes communicable diseases. If the school board ignored the mandate and guidance, the school could possibly lose a substantial amount of money and the school board members could be personally liable. Mr. Funk explained that his responsibility was to give direction to the board based on the laws.
Mr. John Statton asked the board if a student would have to show proof of vaccination. Mr. Funk answered that schools are not requiring proof of vaccination. It is up to the parent/guardian to provide the school documents that a child has been vaccinated in order to not have to quarantine due to close contact or to follow the quarantine guidelines.
Mr. John Hubele questioned the board regarding being sued by parents. He asked how many times the district has been sued by parents when a student has contracted the flu. Superintendent Lee said none that he knows of. Mr. Hubele stated that there is not a higher probability of contracting COVID at school than there is the flu. Superintendent Lee said that there had never been a mandate for masks to be worn due to the flu.
Mr. Kenneth Hargrave expressed his concerned that a few weeks ago the district was making masks optional. He said that the only thing that is different is the governor now mandating that masks must be worn.
Mrs. Rachelle Hubele stated that she has been a math teacher, a homeschooling mother, and last year a substitute teacher in the district. She stated that she struggled with wearing a mask and left every day with a headache, sometimes a migraine. She stated that she fully supported the optional masks. She also supports parents having the choice to choose remote learning for their child(ren).
Mr. Dusty Aud stated that the masks don’t work. He said that the requirement of students to wear masks is based on political reasons and should be based on what is best for the kids. He stated that there are some districts in the area -- Red Hill, Oblong, Edwards County – that have voted to go with optional masks for the coming school year.
Ms. Pam Haywood asked the board to consider making masks optional for the children and for the teachers. It impacts learning and teaching. It is not in the best interest to require masks. She supports parents/guardians signing a waiver.
Mrs. Cindy Colman, educator at Lincoln and Jefferson Attendance Centers, asked Mr. Funk if it was in writing that a school could be withheld state funding or recognition status for not complying with the mandate to wear masks. Mr. Funk said that the Illinois State Board of Education has this authority. He said that it is a legitimate concern.
Mrs. Colman asked if the district continued with the requirement to wear facemasks and the plan is revisited to consider optional masks, will the decision be made on the number of local cases or whether the governor’s mandate is still in place. Superintendent Lee told her that she has a very good point. He will continue to monitor what those case numbers are and share them with the board. She asked if there is no schedule in place, at what point would the board consider lifting the requirement of wearing masks. Superintendent Lee said that he relies on the school attorney, ISBE, and the health experts. He said that he hates to see the community become divided over the issue.
Mrs. Colman addressed Mr. Funk. She stated that in softball, COVID release forms are signed by parents/guardians. She asked if this is a legally binding agreement. Mr. Funk replied that it depends: probably not (schools can’t waiver the right to follow the law).
Mrs. Colman stated that last year, many families chose the new Christian school in Carmi because they did not require masks. She asked if anyone had seen data from this school. Superintendent Lee said that he was not aware that this information is available to the district. Mr. Funk stated that the delta variant is much more transmissible/contagious among younger students. The executive order says all public and non-public schools are mandated to wear masks.
Mr. Hargrave asked the board that as far as reviewing the plan, if the governor still has an executive order that students have to wear masks, will the board be following the governor or the county case numbers. Board President Fulkerson said that the board will also have to monitor surrounding counties as many of our citizens are frequently in the Evansville and Henderson area. Mr. Hargrave then stated if the cases in our southern area becomes lower but the governor still mandates masks, will the board be following the governor or the case numbers.
Mr. Hubele recommended that the plan be tabled until Superintendent Lee or the board talk to the other school districts that are not going to mandate masks. Also until students’ health is taken into consideration.
Mrs. Kate Simmons, junior high school teacher, addressed the board regarding national statistics. She said that last year the district went to bat and put the kids in school. Now we are eighteen months into the pandemic and nothing has changed. She asked why we are following Springfield when we are a little bit scared.
At this point in the meeting, the board discussed the Return to School Plan for the 2021- 2022 school year. Board President Fulkerson spoke regarding the financial standpoint, the district will receive approximately $8,000,000 state and federal funds this year. ESSER funds are in three phases: Phase 1: District has received $351,000; Phase 2: District will be receiving $1,200,000; Phase 3: District has the possibility of receiving $3,200,000. He asked Mr. Funk if the district doesn’t follow the mandate, do we put the district in jeopardy of not receiving the $4,200,000. Mr. Funk confirmed and that the mandate requires district to follow a return to school plan that is in line with the governor’s executive order.
There is a short window to the opening of school. It was suggested that the Return to School Plan be revisited at the September 20, 2021 board meeting. Mrs. Colman asked why the schools can’t be masks optional while we figure it out.
Motion by Scates, second by _____________, that the 2021-2022 plan for a Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services failed due to lack of second motion.
Motion by Mitchell, second by Scates, that the 2021-2022 plan for a Safe Return to In Person Instruction and Continuity of Services be adopted with the following revisions and/or modifications: with the understanding that it will be reviewed at the September 20, 2021 board meeting and possibly adjusted pending COVID positivity rates and guidance from the Egyptian Health Department. Roll call vote: Ackerman, no; Acord, yes; Mitchell, yes; Scates, yes; Whetstone, yes; Fulkerson, yes.
AJOURN
Motion by Ackerman, second by Acord, that the meeting be adjourned at 7:43 p.m. Motion carried by unanimous vote.
https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1463785/August_10__2021_-_Special_Board_Meeting.pdf
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