EM School Board updates coronavirus policy and finalizes budget numbers
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By Cara L. Dempski
ELK MOUND – On October 25, the Elk Mound Board of Education decided to alter the district’s Covid-19 quarantine policies, according to district administrator Eric Wright, “The EMASD will be working to secure an on-site vendor to administer testing with parent consent. The close contact of a positive school contact will be able to have an antigen test administered on-site on days 1,4, and 7. If the test on each day is negative, the student may remain in class. In the event the antigen test is positive, the student will need to be quarantined and we would require a PCR test to be administered. If the PCR test is negative, the student may return to school.
In the event the parent chooses to not utilize the test, then the child would fall under the current protocol of returning on day 11 without a test. If an individual has tested positive in the past 90 days, he or she would not need to quarantine.”
Later in the meeting, the Board approved an overall tax levy of $1,995,693 for the general fund, and $1,280,000 for debt service. Superintendent Eric Wright explained the district equalized property value for the year amounted to $427,886,989, which means the equalized aid coming from the state will likely decrease from previous years. The mill rate for this year’s school taxes amounts to $7.66.
The Board moved on to other business items after approving the budget updates, including: approving a snow day plan which will be the same as previous years. The Board also approved a slight increase in substitute teacher pay from $120 to $140. Additionally, the Board also approved the resignations of a bus driver and a paraprofessional.
After concluding all its public business, the Board moved into executive session to discuss the hiring of several district staff: this included approving Stephanie Ische as a paraprofessional, Ryan DeRoek as a middle school basketball coach, Elias Audley as a middle school wrestling coach, Carly Anderson as a paraprofessional, Kelly Connolly as a part-time food service worker, and Jeremiah Fredrickson as the head high school track coach. No action was taken to hire a regular route bus driver.
The next school board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on November 22.