North Egypt News

Community High School District 99 Board of Education met Feb. 1.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Board of Education, Community High School District 99, met in Special Session with Action Item at 6:30 p.m. at the Administrative Service Center.

President Kupka appointed Aja Johnson to serve as the secretary pro tem,

Upon the Secretary pro tem's roll call, the following Board members answered present: Nancy Kupka, President; Mike Davenport, Vice President, and Members Christopher Espinoza, Jennie Hagstrom, Terry Pavesich and Joanna Vazquez Drexler. Member Sherell Fuller was absent.

Also present were Hank Thiele, Superintendent; Gina Ziccardi, Associate Superintendent; Rob Lang, Assistant Superintendent for Staff Services; Jeree Ethridge, Assistant Controller; Jill Browning, Director of Communications; Courtney DeMent, North High Principal; Ed Schwartz, South High Principal; Student Board members Scarlett O'Hara and Jade Toledano; and Aja Johnson, Secretary pro tem.

There were seventeen visitors. A copy of the Visitor Roster is attached.

1. 2021-2022 RETURN TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION PLAN

Dr. Thiele read an opening statement expressing appreciation for the communities' involvement and the work of the Board, who are volunteers. He stated the Administration will follow the Board's direction.

Dr. Thiele reviewed the COVID mitigation timeline starting in July of 2021, and noted that on August 2, 2021 the Board put in place mitigation efforts of face coverings and contact tracing, consistent with the recommendations of health agencies. Dr. Thiele stated the Board's rules were in place prior to the Governor issuing his Executive Order requiring masking. On February 4, 2022, a temporary restraining order was issued preventing the State from enforcing the Governor's rules for those Districts named in the lawsuit, which included District 99. Therefore, according to Dr. Thiele, the mitigation measures approved by the Board prior to the Executive Order are in effect, which include face coverings.

Mr. Schwartz, speaking on behalf of himself and Dr. DeMent, stated in two weeks the Governor is removing the mask mandate outside of schools and it is time to transition to making masks optional.

Dr. Thiele presented the Administration's recommendations, to be effective February 18, which included: following all Federal and State laws (which currently includes masking on buses and the potential outcome of pending or future litigation); sick students and staff will be expected to stay home; contact tracing/exclusions will end; and mask wearing will be respectfully recommended. Dr. Thiele stated the District would provide two KN95 masks to students and noted universal masking would still be required on transportation, which includes buses and in Driver Education cars, per Federal mitigation measures, and in the Health offices.

2. RECEPTION OF VISITORS - PUBLIC COMMENT

Debby Robertson, Ana Guido, Deb Davero, Jordyn Raymond, Erica Rausch, Brooks Johnson, Kevin Kuster, Noel Manley, Barbara Allen, David Pittinger, Steve Peters, Ben Pittinger, Hugh Califf, Isabella Folise, Sydney McCormick, Carolyn Gugliemo and Lilly Roche addressed the Board in support of making masks optional.

Dr. Thiele noted 235 Public Comments were been received via the online Google form, which was opened the day the meeting was announced, and the Board has had an opportunity to review those comments. He stated there were comments both in favor of continuing masks and making masks optional. Dr. Thiele stated the comments received would become a part of the Meeting Minutes,

3. MITIGATION MEASURES RELATED TO THE 2021-2022 RETURN TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION PLAN

Member Hagstrom moved and Member Davenport seconded the motion for the Board of Education the amend the mitigation measures related to the 2021-2022 Return to In-Person Instruction Plan approved at the August 2, 2021 Board of Education Meeting as presented.

Members of the Board expressed their thoughts and rational on whether or not masks should become optional, and stressed how much they care about the well-being of the students of District 99.

Student Board Members emphasized students and staff need to be respectful of the choices people make and both shared they would likely continue to wear masks.

Dr. Thiele stated the Administration will follow and carry out whatever rules the Board establishes and urged Board members to vote based on what they felt was best for students. He offered an alternative recommendation, for the Administration's recommendations to be effective February 28, instead of February 18, noting there is no reason for students to mask once adults are no longer required to.

Member Hagstrom accepted the recommendation to have the new protocols and mitigation measures be effective on February 28. Member Davenport seconded the motion,

Upon the Secretary's roll call, Members Hagstrom, Davenport, Espinoza, Pavesich and Vazquez Drexler and voted AYE. President Kupka voted NAY. The President declared the motion carried.

Dr. Thiele reiterated that masks would be required until February 28. Board members expressed concerns about how bullying would be addressed. Dr. Thiele stated students who felt bullied should go to a trusted adult and the Deans/Administration would follow through.

4. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business or discussion, Member Pavesich moved and Member Davenport seconded the motion that the meeting be adjourned. Upon the unanimous voice vote of the six members in attendance, the President declared the motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:18 p.m.

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