Northland School Board discusses Covid sick leave

   The Northland School Board heard several reports during the regular scheduled meeting held Thursday, Nov. 18 along with recognizing and thanking staff for the Veterans’ Day program. A special thank you was given to Jose Gruba for the hard work she did with the Northland student band in having them prepared to perform the songs for the program. Recognition was also given to Eddie Barron, teacher, for persevering through some very challenging situations this fall.

   Katelyn Edstrom, student leadership advisor, shared the student leadership report McKinna McKinney prepared for the board as she could not attend the meeting. During the report McKinney requested the board reconsider hiring another social worker specifically for high school students. She recognized that the current social worker, Terri Shepard, does a wonderful job but states that she is only one person and as the year progresses they recognized that high school students are in need of more resources provided by a social worker.

   McKinney also wrote about the various first quarter celebrations students were recognized for and the incentives that were received. During the Assistant Principal, Janessa Green’s report she elaborated on some of the incentives students received. Along with students being recognized for being on the Honor Roll, advisory classes having 0-1 referrals received a 10 point homework pass and all students having received no tardies during the quarter will receive a pizza party.

   Green also shared Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) data for the first quarter. It was shared that there was a total of 60 major referrals during the first quarter for high school students with the top three being for attendance/truancy/tardies, defiance/disrespect/non-compliance and minor aggressive acts. In the elementary grades there was a total of 72 major referrals during the first quarter with the top three being defiance/disrespect/non-compliance, endangerment and minor aggressive acts.

   Principal Mary Yakibchuk began her report by recognizing the amazing Veterans’ Day program Nov. 11 and that it was great to see the positive energy and community-wide support at the event. She also informed the board that the school had their first safety check with the Interquest Detection Canines with the school only receiving three hits, two being residual and one actual find.

   Yakibchuk then asked Edstrom to share the portion of the report about the college visits that 10th - 12th grade students attended the past Friday to Fargo and Moorhead. Edstrom stated that she was able to acquire a grant through the AVID program for her 10th graders, she then opened the trip up to the juniors and seniors and had them pay $5 to attend. A total of 27 students went on the 12 hour trip and enjoyed the experience of visiting a college campus. Edstrom stated by allowing these students to visit college campuses, it lets them visualize themselves going to college and feeling that they could go there.

   Yakibchuk then shared with the board, although there is currently no choir teacher, the staff is planning on putting together an elementary Christmas program for the community. 

   Superintendent Pat Rendle then presented possible Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with staff in regards to Covid sick days. Currently, with the schools policy, if a student or staff contract Covid or have a family member that contracts it then they have to quarantine for 10 days. Currently staff are then required to use their accumulated sick time, even if it is a family member, and they do not have any symptoms. Rendle requested the board consider adopting a MOU to allow staff to get paid for this required absence without having to use their sick days. It was noted that currently if a staff member has a child that contracts Covid, then they will have to stay home for 10 days whether they are sick or not. Then if themselves or even another child contracts it they would have to stay home for another 10 days. It was noted that the staff could easily end up being out for 20 or more days which would utilize all or most of their sick days. 

   Discussion within the board showed consensus between all board members present, but a question was brought up about possibly changing the school’s quarantine policy. The board decided to table the approval of the MOU until the next board meeting with instruction for Rendle to bring in more information on quarantining for vaccinated and individuals that have contracted Covid within the past 90 days.

   In other Board action:

   • Heard financial information from Business Manager Ellie Hill on the updates being planned for the football field, baseball field, softball fields and the track along with the building of a new bus garage.

   • Approved a resolution supporting Form A application to Minnesota State High School League to request a grant to offset student activity fees.

   • Approved Abbie Newman as Knowledge Bowl Advisor for 2021-22.

   • Accepted the resignation of Vanessa Cichy as Indian Education Tutor effective Nov. 5, 2021.

   • Approved the hire of Isaiah Heinle as custodian with a start date of Nov. 11, 2021 and the hire of Johnathan Gowell as Junior High Boys Basketball coach for the 2021-22 season.

   The Board scheduled the following meeting: a regular meeting, Thurs., Dec. 16 at 5:30 p.m. and the Truth in Taxation Meeting, Thurs., Dec. 16 at 6:30 p.m. all meetings are held at Northland High School.