The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
At the June 23rd La Harpe School Board meeting, Dr. Lee shared and discussed the guidance from the State Board of Education concerning COVID-19 and the return to school in August. Dr. Lee received the 60-page ISBE guidelines and the board and administration discussed at length the different requirements set forth in the document.
Dr. Lee urged the board to let the public know that so many of these decisions are out of the administrators' hands.
The administrators and transportation directors of La Harpe, Calls, Carthage, and Illini West will meet to process the information together in an effort to approach guidelines in a unified way for the families who have students attending the elementary and high school districts.
Further discussion included being prepared for remote learning should they have to go out again.
Social distancing ion the classrooms and on the bus, taking temperatures, and increased duties were also discussed.
Dr. Lee also noted that the 2020-2021 preliminary calendar will need to be updated to include the new State Holiday of Election Day which will become a non-attendance day for students.
A Committee of the Whole held a meeting at 6:30 p.m. ahead of the regular schedule board meeting at 7 p.m. At this meeting Dr. Lee led the committee through each of the updates proposed by the Illinois Association of School Broads Press Policy Service. The committee considered wording choices and changes in law which warrant the policy updates.
The board approved the consent agenda including minutes of the May 19, 2020 meeting of the La Harpe C.S.D. #347 school board, financial report, and action to delete verbatim, closed meeting recordings 18 months and older.
The board reviewed and approved the payment of bills for the La Harpe CSD #347.
The board is in the process of reading and reviewing the Board Member Code Of Conduct. Each week one item from the Code of Conduct is read as a review of the purpose, intent and function of a public school board. This week the board read item #3 from the Code of Conduct: "I will recognize that a board member has no legal authority as an individual and that decisions can be made only by a majority vote at a board meeting."
Superintendent Report: Dr. Lee's report included information on outstanding state payments totaling $27,094 vouchered but awaiting release at the Comptroller's office.
The district's health insurance premiums are decreasing by approximately 3%. Dental and vision will stay the same.
The administrators are waiting to hear if all sports will be allowed.
The state has passed a budget and projects no loss of education funding.
Lee met with IW and Carthage superintendents to discuss school reopening plans. Administrators and transportation directors from all 4 districts will be meeting together mid-July to discuss reopening plans.
Principal Report: Mrs. Ryner shared her initial perspective on the ISBE guidance document, emphasizing the decisions are not her own, but that the whole team must implement them.
The board discussed moving forward with in-person graduation on July 31st at 7 p.m. and how best to implement health-related protocols.
Mrs Ryner also:
The board was notified of two staff resignations: Sharon Spangler and Kim Beals. The Special Education
Coordinators Haley Humes and Kendra Ruebush will share responsibilities and duties for the 2020-2021 school calendar year.
July's school board meeting date has been changed from July 21 to July 28th.
La Harpe school board meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month in the district office conference room. Agendas and approved minutes are poste4d on the website at laharpeeagles.org.