GC School Board discusses Public Health Emergency Preparedness
By Kelsie Hoitomt
GLENWOOD CITY — The Glenwood City Board of Education met on Monday evening, March 25 where Emergency Planning with St. Croix County was discussed.
The District Administration along with school nurse, Barb Rasmussen have been in discussion with the St. Croix County Public Health Department about preparing for public health emergencies like a natural disaster or act of terrorism.
The County helps set up a “Closed Points of Dispensing or POD” which is a private location where medications are dispensed within 48 hours to a specific group of people like those who are exposed to a dangerous chemical and need an antidote for example. With the school district being the largest employer in Glenwood City, it has become the interest and more logical place for the POD location.
The County would work along side the school district to help with pre-event planning and technical assistance, training and education, providing medications during an emergency and assisting with Closed POD activation, operation and recovery activities.
In other discussion, Middle School/High School Principal Tim Johnson shared in his report that there are plans for a “mock accident” at the high school next month. There will be first responders, firefighters, police officers and even a helicopter to show students exactly what can happen in an accident. This is set to happen before Prom Night to remind students to be careful while driving.
In Elementary Principal, Jim Celt’s report, he shared that the latest Spring Community Education Calender is now available. The Winter catalog had 38 courses and 19 of them ran with 174 total participants.
It was also discussed that the community education program is considering doing a S.T.E.P program, which allows senior citizens in the community to volunteer in the school district and earn a certain wage over the course of a certain amount of weeks and that money will go towards a property tax credit for the individual.
In other business, Dr. Charles Rasmussen, Judy Achterhof and Donna Thompson were selected as the Board of Canvassers to canvass election returns for the April 2 school board election.
The Board approved the state qualifier recognition board gift from the wrestling boosters that will be placed in the wrestling room and will have state qualifiers dating back to 1961 through now.
The Board approved Brent Wink’s resignation as the boys’ basketball coach.
The Board approved the overnight trip to Beaver Creek for the 5th grade class on April 18.
The Board approved the amended Policy 541.1, Bus Drivers, which changed the word children to students.
The Board approved the amended Policy 541.2 Alternative Vehicle Drivers, which changed the age of 18 to 21 years of age.
The Board lastly approved a change to the summer school section (19.02) in the Professional Handbook.
Also, the school district will be receiving bids on Thursday, March 28 for the capital project, which is the science labs, track and road. The Board is then scheduled to approve bids at the April 2 meeting.