The Fulton School District 58 Board of Education heard from director of health services Lauren Jacobs, who gave an update on the district's COVID-19 status at its Wednesday meeting.
As of Wednesday, the district has 69 positive cases, which is the highest number that has been reported in the district. Though numbers are higher, symptoms don't seem to be as severe.
The board decided to amend its Return to Learn Plan to fall in line with the current CDC guidelines by reducing the exclusion from school time from 10 days to five days for a student who is positive for COVID-19. The student could return to school after five days if their symptoms improve, are without a fever for 24 hours and wear a mask for five days.
They also decided to remove the yellow zone from the Return to Learn Plan and to edit the green zone to apply to zero to 6 percent of total school population. Another changed was daily updates will be made to the Fulton Public Schools COVID-19 dashboard to reflect current positive cases instead of contacting close contacts. This passed with a 5-2 vote, with Joe Davis and Emily Omohundro being opposed.
The last changed to the plan was if a student is unvaccinated, an in-home exposure will result in exclusion from school.
Board members also heard from Director of Transportation Bryan Abbott. He presented a chart that showed the state transportation budget revenue represents 0.71 percent of general operating revenue and budgeted transportation expenditures represent 4.74 percent of general operating expenses. The board is recommended to review the provided information on the transportation report.
He also informed members Wi-Fi has been installed on buses to allow students to do homework.
The board approved the hornet logo license agreement as well as renewed the Gerding, Korte & Chitwood for audit services for fiscal year 2022.
The hornet logo license agreement was developed for the district to provide to parties interested in using the new logo.
The agreement includes a one-time flat fee of $100 for commercial/for-profit use and a no charge option for non-commercial/not-for-profit use.
Under the consent agenda, the board approved the quote from Red Canary, Inc. in the amount of $130,680 for network security; the revised recess section of the 2021-22 Fulton Early Childhood Center handbook; confirm the C.L. Richardson Construction Company final change orders in the amount of $11,209.73 for the Bush Elementary School site improvements project; revise the 2022-23 district calendar, which meets the calendar requirements of RSMO 171.031.1; approve the job descriptions as presented and finally confirm the additional contract with Compass Therapy Solutions.
Assistant Superintendent Chris Hubbuch provided members with information for summer school as well as updates on district enrollment, assessments and professional development activities.
Two locations will be used for summer school: McIntire Elementary will host students in grades K-6 and Fulton High School will host students in grades 7-12. Summer school is June 6-July 1.
The next school board meeting is at 7 p.m. Feb. 9 in the Fulton High School library/media center.