Southwest Board approves staff raises
BARTLEY - The Southwest Board of Education met Monday at the High School in Bartley to approve a negotiated contract with teachers for the 2021-2022 school year, to thank a two-term school board member for her service and to hear from a concerned parent on a quarantine of an elementary class.
After approval of the minutes and the claims, which included discussion on the refresh purchase of some new Chromebooks for students in the district, the Board heard from Derek Meyers, who identified himself as the father of a Kindergarten student at Southwest.
Meyers told the Board of some research and investigation he had done after his child’s elementary class was forced to quarantine following a positive COVID-19 test within the class. Elementary principal Tara Fries said a student that had no symptoms was forced to take a test in advance of a needed surgery, a test that came back positive, causing the class and teacher to quarantine.
But Meyers, who requested a hearing with the Department of Health and Human Services, said he learned that no quarantine had been officially ordered from the Health Department. The notice from the school was a request and did not carry the weight of law, he said, and he wished his child could return to school. The subsequent hearing with DHHS was called off, Meyers said, after no official order to quarantine had been provided. Such an order should have come from the local health department, he said.
Superintendent Todd Porter said the district is bound by Directed Health Measures from the Governor, but Meyers said the quarantine is a request unless an order is issued. But Board President Duane Teter countered that the district could face repercussions from the Department of Education if it doesn’t comply with the DHMs. The district will continue to follow guidance from the Department of Education and Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department
Meyers added that he hoped the district took his comments as a compliment because he wanted his child in school.
There was a brief conversation about the Chromebook purchase and a question about textbook use, which has declined with the use of Chromebooks in the district.
The Board then approved the negotiated agreement with certified staff, which called for a $700 raise to the base, bringing the base salary to $36,125.
An item for Activity Director compensation was moved into executive session and upon exit, a $5oo annual raise was granted for the position.
Finally, the Board extended its thanks to Ondrea McConville for her eight years of service on the Board of Education.
In administrative reports, school leaders echoed satisfaction that the district has been able to reach the end of the semester without major changes to its operations, such as remote learning. Porter said he never thought the year they’d make it through the entire semester back at the start of school. Principal Matt Springer said it’s been a day-to-day process, but that the school year has also been productive. Fries said a number of kindergartners returned Monday and the remainder of the class was expected back this week.
