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BLOOMINGDALE -- The Jefferson County Joint Vocational School is among area districts looking to re-open amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and is taking precautions to keep students and staff safe.
During the regular session on Monday, school board members approved the purchase of thermal scanners, face shields, plexiglass and other items which will be placed around the building to ensure safety of all. Superintendent Todd Phillipson said the JVS is eyeing an Aug. 20 start date and the items plus hybrid learning and other protocols to maintain the students' education.
Among the acquisitions were three thermal scanners from Guardiar Solutions for nearly $22,100 that will digitally capture temperatures of students, staff and visitors accessing the building, plus leaders purchased face shields for $640. Phillipson said the scanners will be placed at the main entrance, the cafeteria and at another doorway near the parking lot, while portable plexiglass will be used in the cafeteria and masks, face shields and social distancing will also be required throughout the building.
"In the cafeteria, we're looking at grab-and-go meals," he added.
Additionally, officials approved a remote learning plan to guarantee that students continue to receive an education at home when necessary. To that end, a memorandum of understanding was approved between the board and the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School Education Association. Phillipson noted that the intention was to institute hybrid learning, with groups of students alternating days where they attend school and learn at home, but the plan could change should state and county COVID-19 infections rise.
"We may use space and spread out," Phillipson said. "Many districts are looking to go five days a week and promote remote learning.
"A lot of this deals with assessing kids, technology, professional development and having assigned times for attendance. We have to take hourly attendance, so we plan to have teachers here every day, unless we go to (Level 4 code) purple and have to stay home."
Board President Larry George asked about having portable thermometers on hand to digitally read a student's forehead. District Treasurer Karen Spoonemore didn't believe it was necessary to visit every class and take readings and Principal Dan Hartman was working on a plan to limit movement in the hallways. George also asked if the school resource officer would help maintain social distancing and Phillipson said a space would be available for Deputy John Timko to perform those duties. More talks turned to availability of masks for all students and Phillipson said the items would be accessible if students did not have their own.
About 370 juniors and seniors are currently enrolled for the next term, and board member John Prokapakis said he hoped to see kids in school. Meanwhile, Phillipson said he and other local school superintendents have been conducting weekly Zoom videoconferences with the county health department to determine the best options amid the ongoing pandemic.
Officials said they will look to the health department for guidance, adding they are involved in weekly meetings.
In related business, the board approved the teacher's handbook which Hartman said included a COVID-19 statement indicating that things could change at a moment's notice. Hartman added that a recent ruling that students did not have to take state tests allows schools to use students' grades as technical skill attainment scores, and JVS students did quite well with a 92 percent passage rate.
Among other matters, the board:
¯ Approved the hiring of James Mills as a social studies instructor on a one-year limited contract, effective Aug. 17;
¯ Approved Tammy Sismondo as lead mentor for the school year;
¯ Approved 30 additional summer work hours for Diane Dalesio;
¯ Named extracurricular advisers including Russell Achhammer and Ron Reasoner for SkillsUSA; Rebecca Kelley, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America; Cody LaRue, Business Professionals of America; Fred Jones and Emily Moore, FFA; Barbara Pieniazek, National Technical Honor Society; and Shawna Myers, student council;
¯ Posted an available position for part-time building cleaner;
¯ Approved a change in the administrative contract for district Treasurer Karen Spoonemore to include five additional vacation days at the remainder of her current contract;
¯ Approved a new phone system, a Prospot welder for the auto body program, a Global Diagnostic Workstation for auto service, a Canon poster printer and other equipment for the multimedia and design program;
¯ Set the next meeting for Aug. 18.