NSD patrons to determine mask policy
ROSSTON – Patrons of the Nevada School District will be determining the district’s mask policy.
This decision was made by the Nevada School Board at its August meeting Thursday night. Superintendent Roy McCoy presented the panel with three options, but, after discussion, added the idea of doing a telephone survey using the district’s call system. The board agreed to let the public have its input instead of simply making a decision on its own so parents would know their opinions are important to the district.
School Nurse Lindsey Casey said there are 14 positive cases with students and staff in the district, with 23 in quarantine and six symptomatic needing to be tested. She added the Emmerson district has 22 cases, this includes Taylor and Bradley, while there are 14 cases in Spring Hill and nine in Hope. Prescott, she continued, has five.
The options McCoy listed are to leave the current policy as is, with masks required inside and on buses; making masks optional indoors, but strongly recommending their use and maintaining social distancing of six feet with masks required on buses; or leave the current policy in place until and unless the positivity rate exceeds the current 8 percent. The final option was to simply make masks optional.
The board agreed to using the district’s call system for a survey. New students will have their contact information added before the survey goes live. Once the survey starts, patrons will have until Sept. 9 to voice their opinion. A special board meeting will be held Sept. 9 to make a final decision on the mask policy.
Tonda Pennington, Nevada Elementary principal, opened the meeting saying the first two weeks of school have gone well, though the cafeteria routine has been changed. The first newsletter will be out next month, and interventions will start Monday, which is the earliest ever.
Jason Arrington, Nevada High principal, agreed the first two weeks have been smooth with the staff and students all glad to be back. He said there are 174 enrolled in NHS, which is five more than last year and a few more are expected to enroll soon.
McCoy told the board the Lady Blue Jays played their first home volleyball game prior to the meeting and are getting more competitive, though they haven’t won a match yet, but did win their first set. The volleyball equipment was installed in July with the floor finished last week.
Overall, he said, there are 381 enrolled in the NSD, though the district was funded at 392 last year. As more students are expected to enroll, he said, the district should stay within the normal variance. The senior class will be small this year, but head start is packed.
The day missed, he continued, will be made up on May 12, which is graduation day. Originally, he told the panel, school was to be closed this day.
In other business, the board approved changing the days of personal leave for certified employees from two to 2.5. The original policy requires employees to come in for part of the second day or be docked, something McCoy said he’s not willing to do. The change will allow certified employees to have two full personal days off.
Toward the end of the meeting, McCoy reminded the board it had to select a plan for redistricting the district. Option three, it was decided, would only affect four or five households and allow all board members to represent the old school districts now comprising NSD. Board member Chris Four said the change will affect only a few students, but they attend Nevada anyway.
McCoy said the new district map could be ready by the end of September. He reminded the board all members will have to run again, but could set a May election to get it done if they don’t want to wait until next fall. Once the election is over, they will draw lots to see how long their terms will be.