Liam HalawithMaroon Echoes Managing Editor Editor's Note: This situation is very fluid and more cancellations are likely as this situation progresses. We will continue to keep you updated to the best of our abilities. Check our website: maroonechoesnews.weebly.com for an updated list of closures and cancellations.
The Mount Pleasant Community School Board approved several motions at an emergency session on Wednesday, March 18th. These motions create a district response to the school closure due to the novel coronavirus pandemic and Governor Reynold’s closure recommendation. The board first approved a measure that guaranteed that the student’s last day would be May 29th. The seniors would have their last day 5 days earlier than that on May 22nd. The calendar change would cancel all professional development days and early outs for the rest of the year. This leaves the district with a total of 1,011.75 instructional hours on May 29th. The state minimum of instructional hours before the Governor forgave the 4-week closure was 1,080 hours. All of the time missed during the 4-week closure has been forgiven by the state legislature. The legislature also gave the governor emergency powers to forgive more school time if needed. The board then approved a measure to pay all regular district employees including teachers, paraeducators, janitors, secretaries, and food service workers during the shutdown. Substitute employees will not be paid. The measure approves regular payment of employees through the April 13th closure. The board also discussed how to make up time guaranteed contract time for teachers and other contracted employees. The board instructed Superintendent John Henriksen to come up with options for the next board meeting so that the board can make a better-informed decision. The final motion of the session approved the district’s Sack Lunch program during the closure, the program operates similar to the Summer Sack Lunch program. All students can pick up sack lunches at the Middle School at 400 North Adams Street, Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641 and Salem Elementary at 412 East Jackson Street, Salem, IA 52649. In other news, the district will not move to online learning during the four-week closure. This is due to restrictions set down by the Iowa State Department of Education prohibiting the use of online instruction for grades or credits. Superintendent John Henriksen attributes this to the fact that not all students have access to the internet and those with IEP’s or Individual Education Plans are required to have access to specialized instruction. The district is offering educational resources for those who would like them on the district website at mtpcsd.org. The Iowa State Tests ISASP’s have been suspended until further notice, leaving more instructional time. The spring SAT and ACT tests have also been postponed. The April 4th ACT will be rescheduled for June 13th, but the May 2nd SAT has been canceled. Students are allowed in the high school building to get their stuff from their lockers if they contact the building administrators directly. The gym, weight room, and wrestling room are off-limits to everyone for the duration of the closure. The building will be closed to all staff and students between April 6th to April 10th so that custodians can disinfect the buildings before students return. According to Mr. Henriksen, all events scheduled after the recommended time of closure will still be held as long as it is determined that the health risk for such a large group of people has dissipated. These events include prom, graduation, and the band trip. Henriksen stated that the high school athletics associations would have to determine how to reschedule their season since all sports practices are canceled during the 4-week closure. The closure would end 4 weeks into the beginning of the sports season. Henriksen has previously stated that the district would attend any scheduled events as long as it is determined safe to do so. Again, a reminder that the current emergency situation is ongoing and that any or all of this information could change in the days and weeks ahead. As we learn more, we will continue to communicate as much as possible.
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