USD 253 Emporia is staying the course with its current COVID-19 mitigation practices in addition to recent policy alterations approved by Lyon County Public Health.
Friday, Public Health approved three key changes including creating a classroom exemption plan where students properly using masks and at least three-foot social distance can be considered exempt from quarantine. Public Health also dropped the requirement of a universal masking mandate being in place in order to participate in the “Test to Stay and Learn” modified quarantine program.
Board members approved the district’s universal masking mandate on Aug. 11 with some stating the mandatory masking requirement for the modified quarantine played a significant role in their decision.
This includes board member Jeremy Dorsey who says the recent adjustments are somewhat frustrating to him.
Despite Public Health no longer requiring the mandatory mask use, Superintendent Allison Anderson-Harder says the district will not be dropping or revising any mitigation practices at this time.
Dorsey stated he feels the board should look to revisit the masking policy by October following parent-teacher conferences.
You can find more information on the recent alterations by Public Health by clicking the link at the bottom of the page.
In other business, the board also discussed a potential settlement between the district and Symmetry Energy Solutions for the district’s more than $123,000 energy bill the district received following the brutal cold brought about by Winter Storm Uri in February. The settlement was negotiated by Smythiman and Zakoura on behalf of USD 253 and other member districts of the Kansas Joint Utilities Management Program (KJUMP) consortium.
Prior to the settlement being negotiated, The district paid the maximum statutory amount — the maximum amount which can be levied for goods and services during an emergency situation — to Symmetry after which time a formula was developed to determine the remaining sum still due.
Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations Rob Scheib explains.
The final amount due to Symmetry is $27,574.61.
Securing legal counsel was just one of three options available to the district on the matter. Had the board voted to forgo legal representation, the district could have either developed a payment plan with Symmetry or paid the due amount in a lump sum.
According to Scheib, the legal route was the most cost-efficient for the district as it only cost $1,200 and managed to save district more than $55,000.
Speaking of financial matters, board members also voted Wednesday to exceed the revenue-neutral rate for the 2022 fiscal year before finalizing the 2022 budget. The budget total comes out to just over $87 million including transfers and bonds with a general fund just over $32.1 million and a mill levy rate of 53.896 mills.
The USD 253 Board of Education will next convene on Wednesday, Sept. 22 inside the Mary Herbert Education Center.
Public Health COVID-19 Adjustments Story:
