By DAVE SCHULTZ
Southern Wells Community Schools will observe the newest guidance regarding COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control while keeping an eye on the U.S. Supreme Court.
The two things are related yet unconnected, but they could affect how the school district operates.
The members of SWCS board of trustees — Kevin Scott, Todd Fiechter, Aaron Westfall, and Chad Roush — voted 4-0 to support the recommendation of Superintendent Brian Sloan that the CDC’s plan of operations should followed. The most important part of that will let students and staffers quarantine for five days following a positive test for the coronavirus. They can return to school on the sixth through 10th days if they wear a mask. If they don’t wear a mask, they have to stay quarantined for the full 10 days.
“I’m sure this will not be the last request to make some changes,” Sloan said.
Sloan emphasized that adherence to the new guidelines will particularly ease the staffing strain. “When it comes to staff shortages, we are not immune,” he said. “It’s an option. It’s an opportunity to get (students and staff) back earlier.”
Sloan added that the county’s three public school systems — Southern Wells, Northern Wells, and Bluffton-Harrison — are making efforts to get on the same page. “This is something I know the Wells County Health Department appreciates,” he said.
Sloan said he would also be watching for a Supreme Court decision on the vaccine mandate promulgated by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It affects entities with more than 100 employees. Workers who are not vaccinated must be tested for COVID-19 once a week.
Sloan said the challenge to the mandate was argued late last week at the high court and a decision is expected soon.
That is why he asked that the February meeting be scheduled for Feb. 8, which it has been. The mandate, if it is intact, is scheduled to go into effect Feb. 9. Whatever the situation is, the board will have to make a policy decision prior to the effective date.
Sloan said he tried to put together some contingency plans but finally gave up.
“I’ve gone so far and just decided I’m going to stop and see what happens,” he said.
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The board also made some procedural changes Tuesday.
• Scott is now the board’s president, with Roush the vice president, Westfall secretary, and Fiechter the board’s liaison to groups involved with the school board.
• The board will meet on March 15, April 19, May 17, June 21, July 19, Aug. 16, Sept. 20, Oct. 18, Nov. 15, and Dec. 20 — all on the third Tuesday of the month.
• The board’s meeting time has been changed, however, to 5:30 p.m. The board has been meeting at 5 p.m. and several board members said they had heard from members of the public that 5 p.m. did not allow them to get off of work and get to the meeting on time.
• The board kept its salaries at $1,500 for the year. The state allows board members to be paid $2,000 a year.
Also Tuesday, the board approved Sunday, May 29, as the date for graduation. The time will be 3:30 p.m. Graduation will be held outdoors, weather permitting.
A draft proposal for the 2022-23 school year was approved by the board. Students will go to class Aug. 11, the first semester will end Dec. 20, the second semester will start Jan. 4, and students’ last day of school will be May 24.
daves@news-banner.com
• Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story had Kevin Scott’s name incorrectly reported.
