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Scales Mound readies district for return

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SCALES MOUND–The Scales Mound School Board approved the district’s return to school plan on Monday, July 20. The plan has the entire district returning to in-person learning. Some of the changes include limited occupancy in the cafeteria and ensuring that no area in the building has a congregation of more than 50 students at one time. The school will not have locker rooms available due to coronavirus regulations.

Teachers have developed three levels of learning for the pandemic. These levels include face-to-face learning, blended remote learning and remote learning.

 

Other business

The board also:

•approved borrowing $6 million for Project 2021, which has an estimated cost of $11.5 million. Superintendent Dr. Bill Caron presented information on the fund balances from 2015 through projected fund balances in 2025. The remainder of project costs will be covered by district reserves.

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•approved the faculty/staff handbook.

•approved the coaches’ handbook.

•made the school nurse, Annie Timmerman, a full-time employee with a salary of $40,000.

•approved the school calendar for 2020-2021 to reflect the inclusion of the mandated Election Day holiday. An additional day will be added to the end of the year making the tentative last day of student attendance to be May 24, 2021.

•approved the athletic trainer contract with Midwest Medical Center for home high school volleyball and basketball games.

•approved the coaches’ expectations for 2020-2021. The document was developed by Dr. Matt Wiederholt, principal, and athletic director Dave Wiegel. The document provides expectations for a regular extracurricular season, interrupted season or no season.

•held the first reading of the student/parent handbook. The handbook was updated with the help of the staff and board and with guidance from the Illinois Principal’s Association Model Handbook. The handbook will be approved at the August board meeting.