Potomac School Board
POTOMAC – Potomac School Board offered their support for the continued planning of the eighth grade trip, the basketball season and Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) at their Oct. 12 meeting. They also refined their mask policy and voted to support teachers’ stipends for continuing education.
Potomac eighth graders presented their three options for their eighth grade trip. Two of the three options required travel outside of Montana. While educational opportunities have not been fully explored for the three options, they told the board they understood that at least 80% of the trip, minus travel, would be an educational experience.
The board voted unanimously to support the class continuing to plan their trip and encouraged them to not wait until the spring to solidify their plans.
The eighth graders said they have raised more than $4,600 for the trip. They have many other fundraising ideas that accommodate for social distancing requirements.
The board discussed the amount of seed money they would be willing to provide this year. In the past couple of years they provided $500. Last year’s eighth grade class left $3,000 to this year’s eighth graders since they were unable to go on their trip.
Trustee Gary Long motioned to give $1,000 seed money.
Members of the board expressed concern that, since this is a large class, that they wouldn’t have funds to replace the seed money. Other board members felt they needed to maintain consistency from years past.
One of the eighth-grade students spoke up and said $1,000 would be a great start for the class. This year will be more difficult to fundraise due to the pandemic’s effect on businesses and the inability to hold events. And even if the class is unable to pay back the seed money, $2,000 still remains from last year which is four years of seed money for other classes.
The board voted unanimously to provide the $1,000 seed money.
“You have certainly won the group over with your ability to defend yourself,” said Chair Cliff Vann. “Keep it up. That is why we have you attending these meetings.”
Eighth graders will provide the board with a monthly report on their educational planning and fundraising.
The board discussed the upcoming basketball season and MCT production. The board and public in attendance were supportive of moving forward with both.
Rouse pointed out that the school implemented cohort groups. If they allowed basketball and MCT, it would be very difficult to maintain those groups.
Before discussing COVID risk mitigation, the board asked the volunteer coaches if they would be willing to coach. Both the girls’ Head Coach Beth Copenhaver and boys’ Head Coach Gary Flomer said they would coach if the students wanted to play.
Rouse asked if the coaches had a problem playing larger schools. As of the meeting, Hellgate Elementary, Frenchtown, Valley Christian and Seeley Lake Elementary had committed to the season.
Copenhaver said the big schools are great to work with and they try to match skill levels when possible to have a better game.
“Sports are more than just the game, more than just the activity. It is the lessons that we learn within them that carry us into adulthood and through life,” said Copenhaver.
Trustee Courtney Hathaway, MD, who works in Family Medicine and Obstetrics, said based on the data she has seen it is not the children that are spreading COVID to one another that has been the most problematic. It is adults spreading it to adults at events, gatherings and when not observing proper distancing.
“It is here, it really is here. Potomac is such a special place and we have been spared from this. But I do worry that because we have been spared, our community has a little bit of a cavalier attitude towards the seriousness of this,” said Hathaway. “I encourage people, if our goal is…to keep our kids in school, keep them involved in activities and have them do what they want to do, then we need to be responsible as parents and adults in our community and adhere to some of these community health guidelines. The general public health guidelines are there for good reason.”
The board agreed they would move forward with the basketball season. Suggestions to help mitigate COVID risks included having the opposing team enter from a separate entrance, requiring masks and temperature checks to enter the building, limiting spectators to local fans only and requesting that games be played in the larger gyms.
Rouse told the board that MCT has adjusted to account for social distancing requirements. The rehearsals will be different and the size of the cast will be restricted. There will be no make-up used for the performance and there will only be two performances.
Some other ideas the board shared to further mitigate risk with MCT was selling tickets so they knew exactly how many were in the audience, limit parents to one performance and record the performance and post it on a private channel to YouTube so the community could watch.
The board agreed that Rouse should continue to pursue an MCT performance this year.
“We are stepping out there, every opportunity we get to give our kids experiences,” said Vann. “Missoula County schools aren’t going full time and we are. Help us, community, to make this work.”
Members of the board, the public and staff expressed their desire to see the board change the requirement that students and staff wear masks outside.
Rouse said their job is to limit the number of students and staff that could be identified as close contacts should there be a positive case in the school. Removing masks outside will increase that risk.
Those in attendance at the meeting felt that was an acceptable risk and saw it as something doable. The board unanimously voted that masks are not required outside unless in close proximity for 15 minutes or more.
Rouse asked the board if he could use Literacy Grant funds to support staff continuing education while earning literacy and instructional leadership graduate credits. There were several teachers that were pursuing their masters or continuing education. Rouse felt this would increase the teachers’ skills and abilities, offering a better education to the students at Potomac School. Teachers who would benefit from the assistance added it would be very helpful.
The board unanimously approved financially supporting the teachers’ professional development.
In other business:
• The board unanimously approved: The required revisions and new procedures and forms for the MTSBA Fall Policy Updates after the second reading; hiring Nicole Scheer as the evening facility disinfector and the PACE 2020-2021 COVID-19 MOA for classified staff.
The next meeting is scheduled at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9. For more information visit http://www.potomacschoolmontana.us/
Reader Comments(0)