Thorndale ISD nurse Sara Sanders told the board of trustees about updated COVID quarantine statistics and discussed the new guidelines that changed the quarantine period from 14 days to 10 days at the district’s Dec. 16 meeting in the administration building. She said that there had still not been any documented student-to-student transmission which goes along with the statement made by the CDC director last month.
Thorndale Elementary Principal Michael Young reported that the prekindergarten classes have moved into the building after rearranging the library to make room for them.
Middle school Principal Scott Frei, high school Principal Jennifer Parnha along with Young reported six students will remain in asynchronous instruction in January due to a confirmed medical necessity. They reported that there are two students on each campus using asynchronous instruction.
Technology Director Deby Leschber, updated the board on the status of the new E rate projects and her plans to upgrade the Cat 5 cable with new Cat 6 cable in most rooms in the district over the next few years. She said the projects will be funded at 80 percent with the district contributing 20 percent.
Superintendent Adam Ivy told the board about the calendar update due to the state band marching competition.
He talked about a few masonry issues that needed to be repaired in the band hall and elementary school.
Ivy stated that the district would have a special education and dyslexia audit this month and that they were conducted once every six years.
Ivy wrapped up his report by informing the board that the district will look at the ever increasing reporting requirements related to the state PEIMS system and how that will affect the district’s PEIMS personnel.
Board member Kimberly Biar asked if there has been any effort to talk to legislators about the need to stop issuing unfunded mandates like the PEIMS reporting requirement. Ivy said that education groups routinely make the elimination of unfunded mandates a legislative priority.
A presentation of roofing and HVAC quotes was made by Ivy to be considered at a future meeting. He said that he had at least three roofing quotes and two HVAC quotes to potentially replace these systems on the high school building which has a 20-yearold roof that has needed regular repair recently.
Ivy and Rebecca Peel discussed the need to extend the Emergency Paid Sick Leave policy that was issued by the Federal CARES act. It expires at the end of January. The board discussed this issue at length and voted 6-0 to approve a resolution to extend the EPSL due to COVID 19 through June 30, to all staff members regardless of whether they used EPSL during 2020 in the event that the federal government does not extend this benefit before it expires. This would allow for up to 10 days of EPSL for all staff members and it started Jan. 4.
The board voted 6-0 to approve budget amendments No. 6 and No. 7 related to the new state reimbursement of student SAT and PSAT testing.
The board will meet Jan. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the Thorndale ISD administration building.
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