Van Wijk Blog

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Summary of the July 28 Collierville School Board Business Meeting. This summary represents my best attempt to capture what was discussed. Please feel free to contact me if there are any issues. Full board present. Meeting was moved to CHS Pickler Auditorium to accommodate more members of the public. Full distancing is in place, with marked seats in alternating rows. Estimated 150-200 people in attendance (1000 seat auditorium, half of the rows available, 1 person for every 3 seats, means about 1/6 full.

Mr Hansen asks the board if they consent to suspending the new 30 minute limit on comments, and they agree to ‘take as long as needed.’

Opening Statements – presentations about reopening plans.

Dr Lilly – we are having to learn as we go along – this has never been seen before. Dr Lilly thanks attendees and parents for their input through emails and calls, which have been much appreciated.

• 88% of parents said they prefer return to school if safe
• 85% of parents prefer hybrid if not safe
• AAP: “spacing as close as 3 feet may approach the benefits of 6 ft of space”
• Health Department questioned the 3 ft, the planned bus use and not mandating masks at all grades; sets 6 ft as gold standard
• AAP, CDC and Tn Dept of Education all point to local health authorities as the primary source for decisions and guidance
• 6 ft of distance forces use of hybrid model
• Other districts have higher participation in virtual education, allowing them to use greater distancing between students
• CVA offerings are limited because ‘you can’t stand up a full virtual academy in such a short time.’
• Breaking news: additional AP courses will now be available through a third party provider (not Edgenuity).
• Also adding STEM and Art at the middle school
• Virtual enrollment will be monitored to see if enough students will select it to allow in-person return to school with distancing.
• Lower grades will be prioritized for return to in-person.

Presentation by Dr Nancy Kelley, Director of Safe Schools at Collierville – Provided background on what distancing looks like. One example of desk usage – all desks in the hybrid classroom, but color coded which seats are in use each day.

Public comments. Mr Hansen addresses the public response to the reopening plan, and having seen feedback everywhere. People don’t like the hybrid plan, and neither does he. Nobody has this as the preferred solution. Everyone acts like they are experts, but we have to rely on real data from the appropriate official institutions. Collierville seems to have been the most aggressive in trying to open back up to 5 days of in-person teaching across the state. With cases continuing to rise, the Shelby County Health Department would not endorse the plan.

Notable comments from speakers:

• Having a much stronger Virtual Academy offering can reduce capacity in schools
• Seniors aren’t allowed to take study hall in CVA – which is a bizarre rule
• Parents asking for in-person school because students need that help
• Families are choosing to leave Collierville Schools which will remove funding from our schools
• There are still undecided parents in regards to CVA
• Nobody is answering the question: how do we keep a parent home to guide a child through the hybrid model? Collierville Schools hasn’t addressed this
• Parent asking for help from Collierville Schools to figure out how kids can stay home for hybrid
• Parents referencing what Governor Lee said earlier today – challenging the board to take the governor up on his offer
• Parent asking to sign medical waivers for parents who aren’t scared
• Parent urging we listen to medical professionals. Different models may be possible at different ages, but have to follow medical advice
• Collierville Schools hasn’t published medical response plan at this time
• Parent points people to COPOD site that matches students with learning coaches
• Parents in the crowd: “we don’t need data”
• Parent: “masks work, why don’t we use them and send kids to school?”
• Parent asking about half days, using other buildings in town (Malco is empty), trailers. Urges creativity.
• Majority supports in-person school, need to listen to them
• Parent says we shouldn’t be held hostage by the Shelby County Health Department
• Several parents recount their medical professional background
• Parent (also teacher at CHS) points out how the number of students at CHS creates an environment where the virus will flourish, and recommends the hybrid model to keep kids, teachers and all their families safe
• Parent spoke in support of what Collierville Schools has done to support her family and thanks the board and administration for their dedication
• Parent claims kids of teachers can come to school 4 days a week (which is actually not true, per Collierville Schools administration)
• Parent and teacher talks about the decisions she has had to make to prepare for teaching in a COVID world. Speaks in favor of the hybrid plan
• Many parents pointing out that local child care facilities were open with no issue

Following public comment, Mr Hansen called a 10 minute break. Vast majority of people filed out.

Business Items:

• Approval of agenda, prior meeting minutes, June financial statements
• Chairman Report – thanks for the feedback from the public, appreciated people taking time to share their concerns
• Superintendent Report:
  - virtual school options being enhanced
  - welcomed new teachers back today, all others tomorrow; first day of school August 17
  - Contingency of Remote Learning will not look like what the spring looked like
  - Parents will need to be vigilant to check kids for sickness and keep them home to prevent outbreaks
• Final review and approval of revised policies:
• • Budget line item transfer authority language and responsibility clarification
  • Gifts and bequests
  • Surplus property sales
  • Audits
  • Fundraising Activities – new policy replaces old policy – will need to add clause about exception process to follow TN law
  • Staff Gifts
• Review of new Deferred Compensation Plan (401(k))
• Establishment of Middle School (combined) Dance Team Support Organization
• Approval of Elementary, Middle and High School Fees
• Approval of updated disciplinary hearing authority committee membership
• Approval of resolution for emergency suspension of (select) board policies for 20-21 school year

Finally, review of the Board Resolution on the Reopening Plan. This resolution approves the plan, and specifically urges the Superintendent to offer 5 days a week in-person teaching as soon as possible.

Mr Warren had some comments about being pleased with the original plan, which in his opinion was a low-risk plan. Realizes the legal liability of opening schools against health department advice. Disagrees with the sentiment of the public that students were not put first, since this is the only feasible (if undesirable) choice.

Mr Warren asks what the role of the board is in moving forward with reopening. Dr Lilly explained the board is to be informed, but approval through resolution is the formal vehicle for that.

Mr Cox states the goal is to get to 5 days in person as soon as we can, and the resolution provides that instruction.

Board Attorney Marshall clarifies that the Superintendent and his administration are responsible for the plan and its execution.

Mr Cox and Mrs Chism urge the administration to make the Virtual Academy broader and make it a better offering.

Resolution approved.

Mrs Gibbs made comments acknowledging the passion of the parents here tonight. Apprciates the Superintendent, his staff, administration for the endless effort put in over these past months.

Meeting adjourned.

One more thing… I have been writing up these summaries in my attempt to help local stakeholders stay engaged and informed since 2014, adding up to 80+ meetings. I am hoping to further improve community engagement by getting elected to the school board. If you’re so inclined, please visit my campaign page and ‘like’ it for updates, and consider getting involved! Thank you!