(Atlantic) Atlantic Superintendent Steve Barber updated the School Board on COVID-19 at their meeting Wednesday evening.
Barber said from day one their Return to Learn plan has utilized social distancing as their primary mitigation strategy to help start school and prevent spread within the organization. In October, the Board approved a temporary mask mandate.
Barber noted that as of Wednesday morning 92 of Iowa’s 99 counties had a positivity rate of over 15%.
Barber said throughout the school community the greatest fear in regards to COVID is what will happen when they dismiss for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. He said this is another reason that they continue to be stringent with their mitigation strategies and keep their current model of instruction in place.
Meanwhile, Activities Director Andrew Mitchell told the Board Wednesday night that they had a plan on how they were going to transition from outdoor sports to indoor sports, but with the Governor’s new proclamation that has changed.
Mitchell said events will be live streamed as well.
Due to tightening mitigation standards, this year’s musical, The Addams Family will only be viewable in person by the cast and crews immediate family. Each member will receive two vouchers per performance night to view in person. The musical will be livestreamed through an agreement with the rights holders of The Addams Family. Please go to this site: atlantichs.booktix.com to purchase the streaming of the musical.
The Atlantic School Board also held the annual meeting of the retiring board and organization meeting of the new board. Jenny Williams was elected Board President and Nick Hunt was elected Vice President. Sarah Sheeder was appointed the Board Treasurer and Board Secretary. The Board will keep holding their meetings on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the Atlantic High School Media Center.
The Board approved the following resignations: Olivia Newberg – Central Office Secretary, Beverly Jones – Paraeducator, Kim Meurer – Food Service, and Christina Simonton – Paraeducator. The Board approved contract recommendations for Pam Klar – Substitute Special Education Care Driver, Shelly Schlake – Floating Substitute Teacher, and Alyssa Dovenspike – Interim Assistant Girls Soccer Coach.
The Board also approved an overnight/out of state trip for the Spanish Club to travel to Costa Rica in the summer of 2022. This trip request occurs every two years. Approving the trip now allows those interested to engage in raising money to help offset the cost.
Steve Barber also mentioned that they received word from the stat that their application for free breakfast and lunches for the remainder of the year has been approved.
