The Atlantic School District Board of Education will hold a special session beginning 6-p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16th, in the High School Media Center (the meeting will be recorded and made available for viewing soon after it concludes). The Board will discuss Employee Absences for COVID-19. Emergency Paid Sick leave (EPSL) is provided under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, but it is scheduled to expire Dec. 31, 2020. That means ESPL (Which includes extended FMLA) will no longer be available to employees for leave related to COVID-19.

Employees will be allowed to use their available sick leave for one of four following reasons related to COVID-19, through the end of the 2020-21 school year:

1. They are experiencing symptoms of CV-19 are being tested or are waiting for test results. (a copy of the test results will be required)
2. The employee tests positive for COVID. (a copy of the test results will be required)
3. The employee is identified as a close contact to a person who has tested positive for the coronavirus AND has been required to quarantine by public health officials.
4. The employee is caring for a dependent who is subject to reasons 2 or 3 as mentioned.

The Board will also act to approve the resignations of Chase Roller – Middle School Wrestling Coach, and Matthew Smith – Assistant HS Boys Soccer Coach. They will also discuss and act on Remote Learner Guidelines, which stipulates “Students will be required to watch live instruction/or recorded videos and submit work back to their teacher for grading. Attendance is shown by the necessary work being turned in (even if attending Zoom classes).

And, the Board, as mentioned last week, will discuss/act on District Guidelines for the use of face masks. During their regular meeting on Dec. 9th, the Atlantic School Board extended the 30-day mask mandate through the end of the 2020-21 1st Semester (12/22/20). Face coverings will continue to be required when social distancing is not possible, under the extended policy.