Board Approvals:
  • minutes of January 12, 2022
  • November treasurer’s report
  • donation of $1200 from the Emporia Community Foundation to special education teacher Kelly Barrett of Logan Avenue to be used for the Sonday Let’s Play Learn System
  • donation of $500 from Terry Garrett LLC to EHS girl’s basketball for jersey and other related expenses
  • continue approved COVID recommendations and contingency plan to be implemented should the district experience a shortage of COVID tests
  • solicit proposals to provide the district with health insurance consulting services
  • list of students shared during January 12, 2022, executive session who are receiving remote instruction exceeding 40 hours

Board Information/Updates:
Student Academic Achievement FastBridge Assessment:
Dr. Ryan Karjala, Associate Executive Director of Assessment and Accountability, Jared Giffin, Interim Associate Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, Tara Glades, Executive Director of Special Services, and Judy Stanley, Interim Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, provided updates regarding student results from the most recent FastBridge assessments. FastBridge looks at a broad range of student data as it relates to reading and math. The data presented by the group represents the number of students at the top two levels which include low risk and post-secondary ready. Although a large number of students showed growth from the October report, there is still a significant number who did not. Stanley commended the staff for their work with students and the improvements made despite the large number of students who were in quarantine during that time. There are several next steps being implemented by the district, highlights of which include using the data to monitor and assess progress with individual students' goals. Click here to view the FastBridge assessment presentation.

Remote Access to Instruction:
Judy Stanley, Interim Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, reviewed the district's plan to pause remote learning for the next thirty days. This change comes as a result of new guidance received last week from the Kansas State Department of Education along with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment reducing the quarantine/isolation period to five days and the district's large number of students and staff testing positive for COVID-19. Beginning January 24th, quarantines/isolations will be treated as an excused absence, make-up work will be provided by the teacher in the same manner as all absences, excused absences entitle the student to make up missed work (one day to make up work for each day of excused absence), and many teachers will use Google Classroom which will have the most up-to-date assignments. After thirty days this plan will be reevaluated to determine the best practice in moving forward to address student absences due to quarantines and isolations. Click here to view the Remote Access to Instruction update.

COVID Update:
Dr. Allison Harder, Superintendent, Dr. Brad Kempf, Interim Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, and Jennifer Arndt, Director of Nursing, reviewed the current approved COVID protocols and the most recent Lyon County COVID data. Due to the high incidence rate and the number of positive cases the community is currently experiencing, the board voted to continue the current board-approved protocols. Additionally, the board approved a contingency plan for if the district would experience a shortage in COVID testing supplies. The approved contingency plan is included below.
  • if a home test can be obtained, the student and/or parent can bring the test to school to be observed by a staff member trained in testing, and the home test result will be accepted 
  • if people are feeling well on day 6 and not showing symptoms, they can return if they have a doctor’s note. If they are not able to get a doctor’s note with test results they will need to complete their 10-day isolation.

Future Board Calendar Dates:
  • Wednesday, February 9, 2022, 6:30 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center
  • Wednesday, February 23, 2022, 6:30 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center
  • Wednesday, March 9, 2022, 5:30 p.m./6:30 p.m., StuCo Meeting & Board Meeting, Emporia High School