Mt. Vernon Board of School Trustees

Mrs. Bond's intern, Sydney Nichols, shared the following Good News:

1.  MVCSC Food Service served 344 families with 3,440 free meals for those 18 and younger throughout the summer.

2.  All three Mt. Vernon Elementary Schools received national recognition for their commitment to empowering students and were each named a Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Launch Distinguished School.

3.  MVHS Jobs for American Graduates (JAG) Teacher James Cochran was named an Outstanding Specialist by achieving extraordinary outcomes for JAG program participants.

4.  Dr. Parker's Book Bonanza was a hit with the students he connected with at the events.  The book clubs were full through the 6th grade and had a healthy  number of participants through the 11th grade.  Special thanks to the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation who provided each of the students with their book and to the Fortville-Vernon Township Public Library for their partnership.

Mr. Shelton gave the following MVMS Construction Update:

1.  Art Room should be completed this week (painted, flooring installed), ready for students on the first day of school.

2.  Exterior is coming together.  Sitework and underground utility work on-going as well as metal and interior stud framing.

3.  Mechanical, electrical and plumbing rough-ins begin.

4.  Cafeteria east entrance completed.

Project still on schedule to be completed the end of September.

Dr. Parker announced the administration will be forming a committee of stakeholders with the majority being non-school employees to look at curriculum, both state mandated and non-mandated, to help make recommendations for clarity for the purpose of ensuring that all students have the opportunity to learn at high levels.   Meeting dates will be communicated after the start of the school year and names collected of interested individuals to serve on this committee.  

Dr. Parker presented the updates to the Health, Safety & Facilities Protocols for the 2021-2022 school that were presented at the May, 2021 board meeting.  Most of the changes have come within the past two weeks as new information is received from the Indiana Department of Health, CDC and US Department of Transportation. 

Mr. Smedley began by reminding everyone that the tiered response system, previously presented and approved, encompasses five stages based on each school's percentage of absences due to illness.  One June 30, 2021 the Governor's mask mandate was lifted, with one noteable exception, giving schools boards the jurisdiction to implement routine prevention measures they deem necessary to protect the health of students and staff.  The exception relates to the wearing of masks on school buses.  Anyone riding a school bus must still be fully masked whether they have been vaccinated or not.   That is a federal mandate issued by the U.S.Department of Transportation.  On July 9, 2021 the Indiana Department of Health indicated in its guidelines that schools are still required to continue to conduct contract tracing as well as quarantine those determined to be in close contact of a positive COVID individual.  Schools are required to report positive cases and COVID cases are treated in the same way as other vaccine-preventable communicable diseases in the school environment, such as chicken pox, etc.  Cases would be required to isolate until they meet the CDC criteria and those who are unvaccinated and exposed would be excluded from school until they meet the CDC criteria for release from quarantine.  Fully vaccinated individuals who are exposed to COVID would not be excluded from school unless they become symptomatic.  Also on July 9th, the CDC released its guidance for COVID prevention.  That information is linked in our plan.  Mr. Smedley also noted that Hancock County is ranked 5th in the state with its percent of population that are fully vaccinated.  Currently, zip codes for McCordsville and Fortville hover at the 80% rate for fully vaccinated individuals. 

Dr. Parker stated that although we were hoping not to have to, we are duty bound to continue contract tracing investigations.  Those individuals who are fully vaccinated can share that information with school officials, but are not required to.  Students who are identified as a close contact and must be quarantined will be deemed excused when absences are due to quarantine.  

Corporation Nurse Tracy Furnas stated we will continue to offer BinaxNow testing for those who identify as a close contact and are asymptomatic.  This year, testing will be opened up to in-school exposures along with out-of-school exposures possibly allowing 10-day quarantines to be reduced to 7 days for students and staff.  She is working with the Indiana State Department of Health to get the PCR testing to our school.  As the BinaxNow test is a rapid test,  the PCR is a more reliable sent off lab test and should decrease the number of false positives reported.  Mrs. Freeman asked if there was a limit to the number of tests a student can be given and wondered about the cost for each test.  Mrs. Furnas stated the tests are free as the state is supporting supplying testing so there is no limit to the number of tests needed.   Mrs. Walls asked if parents were notified to obtain consent to test before actually testing.  Mrs. Furnas stated yes, parents have the right to refuse.  Dr. Parker added parents will bring students in for the testing and be there with them.  

Mr. Shelton stated every possible attempt to position classroom furniture to keep the 3 ft. distance will be made.    Seating charts will be updated daily to help with the need to contract trace in the classroom as well as on the school buses.  Legislation requires bus drivers to wear masks at all times along with the students while riding the bus.  

Mrs. Furnas has shared the tiered plan with the Hancock County Health Department.  Absences due to illness will be tracked per building and posted on the corporation website, updated weekly when the absence rate due to illness is under 10%.  If the rate reaches 10% or higher, the tracker will be updated daily.  We will use the color code corresponding to the tier identified on our tiered health and safety protocol.  Should we reach 16%, all personnel in that building will be required to wear a mask until the daily tracker reports a lower than 16% absence due to illness.   

Any changes in these protocols will be communicated as they occur. 

Dr. Parker presented second reading of Policy B200 Membership; Policy E100 Adoption of Curricular Materials; and Policy G375 Community Use of School Facilities.  Mrs. Walls made a motion to approve the policy revisions as presented.  Mr. Gray seconded, and the motion carried 4-0.

Mr. Smedley presented a recommendation to increase the hourly pay rate for both Instructional Assistants and Custodians, per the attached.  He cited it has been hard to fill vacancies within these two classified areas of support and the turnover rate is higher compared to other classified positions. By raising the hourly rate, it is the hope that it will alleviate these two issues and make these positions more attractive.   It is his hope to be able to include other classified groups over a period of time. Mrs. Walls made a motion to approve the Pay Scale Adjustment for Custodians and Instructional Assistants.  Mr. Edwards seconded, and the motion carried 4-0.

Mr. Edwards made a motion to approve the Tiered Health and Safety Protocol 2021-2022 Updates presented earlier in the meeting.  Mrs. Walls seconded, and the motion carried 4-0.

Mrs. Freeman reminded board members that it is the responsibility of the board to appoint two of the seven trustees that make up the Fortville-Vernon Township Public Library Board.  One of the appointee's, Ashley Jenkins, term expired on May 31, 2021 and she has agreed to serve another term.  Mr. Gray made a motion to approve the appointment of Ashley Jenkins to the Fortville-Vernon Township Public Library Board.  Mrs. Walls seconded, and the motion carried 4-0.