Atlantic School District Superintendent Steve Barber told the School Board during their electronic meeting Wednesday evening, that he is recommending on-site learning begin August 24th, as part of the District’s “Return to Learn” plan required by the State. Barber said the re-opening guidelines were received June 25th, and legislation has been passed allowing for continuous learning. Moving forward, he said, COVID-19 Health and Safety, as well as Family Dynamics involving student learning need to be taken into consideration, along with whether or not to require masks to worn by students.

The Iowa Dept. of Education is recommending against the use of screening and masks if a on-site or a hybrid learning model is used. Barber said the District’s Health and Safety Sub-Committee has made it a point to require staff to self-monitor and self-report their status every morning before school. And, while not recommended by the DOE, the District will not require masks to be used, and will strongly discourage any harassment or bullying a student may be subject to if they elect to wear a mask.

There are also circumstances and situations where a strong recommendation will be made to wear a mask, especially is social distancing for more than 15 minutes cannot be guaranteed. The District will strive to achieve social distancing as much as possible, Barber said, and will have other health and safety measures in-place. The Board’s consensus was to agree with the recommendation for on-site learning, with the understanding that the continuous learning plan be flexible on an as-needed basis, in light of the changing circumstances surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic.

In other business, FRK Architect/Engineer Principal Tom Wollan updated the Board of the District Athletic Facilities Projects. Wollan said water ponding issues on the south end of the Trojan Bowl appear to have finally been resolved, but the contractor is running about four-weeks behind schedule, putting the first home game on Sept. 11th into question. Wollan said progress moving forward now depends on the installation of the retaining wall, sidewalk paving, railing, bleachers, curb for synthetic turf and other matters that need to fall into place. Additional details on the scheduling is expected next week. Wollan said they are working hard to make-up for lost time caused by the water detention issue and solution.

Utility-type work is being finished on the baseball/softball fields and concession stands. Less activity will be focused on those sites until the Trojan Bowl project can be brought up-to-date. Wollan said also, the State Fire Marshal threw the District a costly curve ball, with regard to bleacher lighting. He said the Fire Marshall is requiring emergency lighting to be installed that will illuminate the bleacher aisles for the Trojan Bowl and Baseball/Softball Bleachers. Wollan said the International Building Code/Bleacher Code does not require aisle lighting, but the Fire Marshal has the final say, and that means an additional cost of $28,000. Wollan said FRK thought lights on-top of the Press Box would suffice, but they were told that does not qualify as emergency lighting (in the event of a power outage).

Superintendent Barber reported also, that fundraising to pay for the $600,000 field turf addition at the Trojan Bowl amounts to $412,000 so far. The Atlantic School Board, Wednesday evening set a Work Session for 6-p.m. July 22nd, and set the Board Retreat for Aug. 18th, from 11-a.m. to 5-p.m. They also approved: The purchase of 350 refurbished touch-screen Chromebook (laptop) computers, and a bid from Olsen Fuel Supply for District diesel, gasoline and propane for the 2020-21 school year.