Fisher discusses criteria for waiver from in-person learning with school board

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

With students scheduled to start school in Charles City on Thursday, Charles City Superintendent Mike Fisher told the Board of Education on Monday that he checks the number of positive COVID-19 tests reported in Floyd County every day.

“We monitor that daily and we work with public health regularly,” Fisher said, adding that the metrics will guide the district’s decisions and also will be a determining factor if the school is to go to full-time on-site learning on Oct. 5, as it hopes to.

The Charles City Return to Learn Plan includes both on-site and remote learning, and presents families with the option of 100% online learning if that’s all they’re comfortable with. About 15% of families have chosen that “School To You” option.

Gov. Kim Reynolds proclaimed in late July that school districts in the state would be expected to teach on site, in the school buildings, more than 50% of the time at the start of the school year.

Under criteria for in-person teaching requirements laid out by Reynolds, a school district may request permission to hold more than half of its classes online if the district is in a county where 15% of people tested for the coronavirus are positive and if the schools have absenteeism rates above 10%.

“The governor has been adamant that the waiver depends on context and community,” Fisher said. “I have some serious reservations and issues with that, but that is the law of the land at this time.”

He said he is working constantly with Gail Arjes at Floyd County Public Health about those decisions, and much would depend on where the increased infections are happening.

Fisher said that as of Monday, the county was not at 15% for positive testing. The percentage is based on the number of tests and cases reported over the last 14 days.

“I want to make it very clear, if we get to a 20% infection rate in Floyd County, we will go to full digital remote learning,” Fisher said.

Fisher also addressed delays the school district is experiencing in the delivery of Chromebook devices that are to be used by students.

He said the district has been able to make adjustments, and it still has remote devices from the past that can be used until the new devices arrive.

Fisher said the delay was COVID-related.

“Raw materials are very hard to get in China right now, where the Chromebooks are created,” he said. “There are also shipping delays due to COVID.”

Fisher said the orders were placed in plenty of time, most of them even before the COVID pandemic began spreading. He said that some other districts that didn’t get their orders in as timely have seen them canceled. Charles City is expecting the devices to arrive in about a month.

Fisher said that elementary teachers, who will be seeing students in-person every day, will share some of their technology as the school year gets under way.

“Our staff has been working very diligently the last week with the digital rollout,” he said. “We’ve got the equipment out and everything rolling.”

In action Monday, the board approved a license agreement with Agile Mind for $40,295.40, effective July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2023. Janet Hansen, high school math teacher, explained the process involved in the selection of the new high school math curriculum to the board and shared a video about the process.

She said Agile Mind uses digital and blended curriculum resources to provide ideal supports for delivering remote, hybrid or in-person instruction. Hansen and Eric Johanningmeier, high school teacher leader, answered questions and told the board that Agile Mind empowers teachers to achieve this vision, creating compelling classroom experiences that engage, inspire and fuel student growth.

Fisher said that some of the cost will go to training, which Agile Mind will provide on an ongoing basis over three years.

In other business, Fisher informed the board that the general fund may require a short term inter-fund loan in September for cash flow purposes, until October, when property tax revenue is received. This loan would be made from the health fund and repaid with interest.

Fisher explained that the fall is traditionally when the district has its lowest cash balance, since state aid ends in June and won’t start up until September. He said that the need for a funds transfer was a possibility, but not a certainty, and he just wanted the board to be aware of it. If an inter-fund loan is needed, a resolution approving the transfer will be added to the Sept. 14 board meeting.

Also on Monday:

— Fisher presented the board with the first of a series of professional development sessions on equity. This session was on socialization, the process beginning during childhood by which individuals acquire the values, habits and attitudes of a society. Fisher also reviewed a draft of goals and presentations for the school board’s professional learning for the upcoming school year. He said he was seeking ideas and feedback to the goals and schedule.

— The board extended formal thanks to members of the various COVID task forces who “worked tirelessly” since March preparing for the return to learning. Task forces included Face Mask, Human Resources, Re-Entry and Food Service.

— The board also extended formal thanks to Jenna Brumm, Taher Food Service Program coordinator, Taher employees and food service volunteers who helped serve meals this summer. Fisher said that more than 80,000 meals were served over the summer.

— Joe Taylor, CCMS principal, presented the board with information on “Sticky Vision-Mission” vision and values. Students and teachers, by video and in person, told the board about the mission and practical applications in the classroom.

— The board approved the 2020-21 student handbooks for elementary, secondary, laptops and home school assistance. Fisher told the board there were only minor changes to the handbooks from previous years.

— The board approved 2020-21 memorandum of understanding with the Charles City Education Association regarding the Teacher Leadership and Compensation process.

— Approved TLC Mentor Teacher Stipends in the amounts of $750 for beginning mentor teachers Rob Pittman, Jenisha Garden, Jennifer Seehusen, Amy Spieker, Lindsey Staudt, Jessie Nelson, Carrie Eiklenborg, Darla Arends, Jacob Gassman and Stephanie Hervol.

— Approved TLC Mentor Teacher Stipends in the amounts of $500 for veteran mentor teachers Sandy Pleggenkuhle, Cara Ludemann and Leann Smith.

— Approved the appointment of Jenna Haglund, assistant high school cross country coach, at a salary of $2,173 effective Aug. 24.

— Approved the appointments of Marie Conklin, Scotti Hagensick and Naomi Yaddof, School To You associate coordinators, each at a salary of $3,500, effective Aug. 1.