August 16, 2021 at 8:00 AM - Special Board Meeting

Discussion:  The meeting was called to order at 8:06 am.

Discussion:  Shane Keith and Celeste Scheer called or text to provide their viewpoints on quarantining for close contact.

Discussion:  The primary reason for the Special Meeting was that the Board had to approve the change in wording of the COVID-19 District protocol to state that any student or staff that tests positive is required to stay home for ten days, whether they have symptoms or not.  This guidance came from the CDC, Gila County Health Department and ADHS.
Michelle Marinelli's position on COVID-19 close contacts was that parents and staff should be responsible enough to make the decision whether to quarantine for ten days.  She is concerned about student and staff being out so much.  It is possible that a person could be exposed more than once, have to quarantine, but never get it themselves.
Audrey Hogue wants students to be in the classroom and supports parent/staff choice on whether to quarantine if close contact.
Jolynn Schinstock supports parent/staff choice to stay home.  She also supports that if a family member of a positive case, those students or staff should stay home, but again it won't be mandated.  Her greatest concern is that those students that are at home are going to lose out on classroom instruction.  She is requesting that teachers have live Google Meets in addition to posting assignments on Google Classroom.  She also requested a communication protocol for parent communications for students that are staying at home.
After Linda Gibson explained that it takes an administrator or liaison four to six hours of time to do tracing on one close contact, Barbara Underwood asked if we could use ESSERIII funds to hire someone to take that over.  Currently, we have a Social Worker position open that will take over that position once one is hired.