EACSD recommends 10-day quarantine for students and staff testing positive for COVID
by Susan Cantine-Maxson
The regular meeting of the board of directors of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) was held at the Kee High School ICN Room in Lansing Monday, January 17. Board business included a variety of approvals beginning with approving the summer overnight baseball trips to Eddyville June 3 and to Hillcrest Academy June 17.
In personnel items, the board approved a contract for Sydney Garrett, Kindergarten Teacher. An additional kindergarten classroom was needed because of increased enrollment at that grade level.
The public hearing for the 2022-2023 school calendar was set for February 21, just prior to the next regular board meeting, which will be held at the former Lansing Middle School location at 696 Main Street. That next board meeting will be held at that location so board members can visit the site of the Kee Connect program.
The board approved the Superintendent’s request to apply to the School Budget Review Committee for adjusted funding. As part of the district’s response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the district’s administration is authorized to submit a request to the School Budget Review Committee for funding related to FY22 Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program (SWVPP) increased enrollment in the amount of $32,521.50.
Kee High School Principal Dr. Sarah Updegraff said new art teacher Stephanie Vest is working out great and also noted Josh Shimak has been an excellent addition to the school in the Special Education Department and will also be able to teach drivers education in the fall through Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC). The district’s Food Service Department will be going through some changes due to a resignation, and the Fine Arts Department will have a food booth at the annual curling event in Lansing scheduled for February 19.
Dr. Updegraff recommended a 10-day quarantine for COVID positive tests. She said if the five-day quarantine was in place when kids come back, they must be 100% masked and eat alone for five days. The 10-day quarantine is recommended for the ease of no masks and extra time to feel better.
New Albin Elementary School Principal Donna Thomas said the new kindergarten teacher, Sydney Garrett, started and the kids were excited. FAST testing scores look good and TAG set-up is in progress. In conjunction with “Have a Heart Day,” $462 was raised and donated to an individual in need of an organ transplant. Thomas agreed 10 days is needed for small children and staff to recover from COVID. She noted that small children have a hard time wearing masks for long periods of time.
EACSD Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier reported that due to bus keys stolen at the bus garage a new surveillance system was installed. There will also be new plans in place due to this incident. The Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) sent a letter commending the Eastern Allamakee Community School District for presenting at the 2021 IASB Fall convention.
Allen Roofing provided plans to replace roofs over the next 10 years in the district’s school buildings. Trane Inc. will be submitting proposals to provide services and upgrades to the district’s HVAC systems. The Iowa Standards for School Leaders (ISSL) Evaluation for Superintendents will be provided to the board members to evaluate the superintendent.
EACSD nurse Julie Welsh was also in attendance at the meeting and recommended a 10-day quarantine at all EACSD schools following positive COVID tests. The recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) requires a five-day quarantine followed by the full-time wearing of a mask for an additional five days after returning to school, but Welsh noted that the consensus is that it is very difficult for students to wear a mask full time during the school day with lunch, athletics, band and vocal activities; thus, the recommendation for a full 10-day quarantine instead of five days of quarantine followed by five days fully masked.
