The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will meet 6-p.m. Wednesday, in the High School Media Center. The meeting will stream live on YouTube. On the agenda, is action on approving the resignation of: Mike McDermott, Head H.S. Football Coach; School-to-work Coordinator JoAnn Runyon, and Achievement Center Custodian Lindsay Williams. The Board will also act on contract recommendations for: Laura Juhl, Preschool Paraeducator; Adam Smith, MS Wrestling Coach, and Tracy Purkapile, Car Driver.

The Atlantic School Board will also discuss, and act on Superintendent Steve Barber’s recommendation for, an extension of the Mask Mandate that was first implemented Nov. 26 and renewed three times thereafter, for 30-days each. According to agenda details, Barber will tell the Board “It appears that COVID will be with us for some time yet, although having some vaccinations is encouraging. I think it would be helpful to stay with a policy for the remainder of the school year.”  Barber has previously stated the Mask Mandate they’ve had in-place has benefited the District by not having to quarantine persons who are to determined to have had close contact, with both parties wearing masks. The Policy states “Face coverings will be required when social distancing is not possible.”

On a related note, the Atlantic School Board will discuss and act on Superintendent Barber’s recommendation with regard to Emergency Sick Leave for COVID-19. Barber recommends an option that says:

• [An] Employee is subject to a Federal, State or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19;
• [The] Employee has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19;
• and [The] Employee is experiencing the symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking a medical diagnosis.

COVID leave balances would not “Start over” for those employees who have already used all or a portion of this leave, and sick leave can only be used for those who have exhausted the 10 days of COVID leave. Barber notes the Federal COVID sick leave expired Dec. 31st. In other business, the Board will act on a recommendation to change the current school calendar to have a Professional Development day on Feb. 22nd, instead of a regular school day. And, they will act on setting Feb. 20th (2021) as the date for a Public Hearing on the 2021-22 school calendar, which is a requirement of Iowa law, along with publishing the proposed calendar 10-to 20- days ahead of the hearing.