ACSD Board of Directors meets to discuss items related to forced closure
by Brianne Eilers
The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) board members met Thursday morning, March 19 for a special session to address two issues resulting from the mandatory closing of the schools earlier in the week due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. The first item of business was to approve recommendations regarding staff pay during the forced closure.
The board members approved a resolution regarding pandemic response and emergency suspension of policy. The resolution allows for the district to continue paying hourly non-exempt employees in order to retain current employees as well as boost morale during this difficult time. The hourly non-exempt employees will be put on paid administrative leave for up to four weeks during the school closure. Should the closure last longer than four weeks, the board members will then re-evaluate the situation at that time.
Also noted in the resolution is the fact that the board may limit the number of individuals allowed to physically attend board meetings, in order to comply with Federal and State health department recommendations. The board can encourage the public to attend or listen to any open public meetings via telephone or video conference or via live streaming on television or the internet. The board may also choose to limit comments to written comments, if necessary. The board will also reserve the right to adjust board meeting times, dates and locations in accordance with the Open Meetings law and will allow board members to attend meetings electronically as permitted by law.
The board approved a meal program during the forced closure. Food will be picked up at the open garage door on the east side of the Waukon Middle School. It can be accessed by using the parking lot between the Middle School and West Elementary. Each child may have one breakfast and one lunch meal per day. Breakfast will be distributed from 7:30-8:30 a.m. and lunch will be distributed from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday beginning March 20 until school re-opens. Lunch meals may be picked up at the same time as breakfast in order to allow families to only make one trip.
Further details of the program are available in the article, including menus, above.
