Monroe County Community School Corporation approved two new COVID-19 procedures during Tuesday evening’s Board of Trustees meeting.
Board member Erin Cooperman is a member of the Monitoring and Advisory Committee. She recommended asymptomatic close contacts return to school eight days after exposure if they provide a negative PCR test.
“The current evidence on PCR tests indicates that when done five to seven days after exposure, allowing students to return on day eight, is sufficient to reduce transmission in the school,” Cooperman said.
However, students must still maintain enhanced precautions through day 14.
Additionally, the board approved a recommendation to no longer contact trace or quarantine students identified as close contacts in outdoor settings.
“We know from the CDC, and studies performed at organizations like the national institute for health, that the risk of outdoor transmission are very low,” Cooperman said.
Erin Cooperman is the district five represenative for the MCCSC Board of Trustees. Her term began in 2021 and lasts through 2024.
Other options for close contacts to return to school would not change. Fully vaccinated asymptomatic individuals still do not need to quarantine.
After the August meeting recessed because one attendee refused to wear a face covering for public comment, the board held a session on Sept. 14 to discuss limiting public comment to current agenda items.
Paul Farmer, president of Monroe County Education Association, said he understands the boards desire for structure, but the original policy went too far.
“This is a democratic process,” he said. “A lot of times democratic process can be ugly, it can be difficult, it can mean hurtful feelings sometimes."
However, the board passed an amended policy allowing public comment on non-agenda items.
Moving forward, the board will recess for 15 minutes to allow for the speaker to be removed if they refuse to stop talking at the end of the three minutes. If a second recess is needed, public comment will be suspended for the remainder of the meeting.
Comments will be limited to individuals who submit requests through the MCCSC website or fill out comment cards before each meeting.
Budget
The board held a public hearing for the 2022 MCCSC budget before its regular meeting Tuesday evening.
The proposed budget of $142,982,397 is divided into five funds:
Education fund- $73,627,614
Operations fund- $40,134,386
Debt services fund- $16,470,144
Referendum fund- $11,740,110
School pension debt fund- $1,010,143
The education fund pays teacher and building administration salaries and benefits, as well as instructional expenses. State tuition support and state sales and income taxes contribute to this fund.
The operation fund pays district administration salaries and benefits, as well as capital projects. This fund comes from local property taxes.
The board is scheduled to vote whether to adopt the budget during its regular meeting on Oct. 26.
