Operational decisions made, masks optional

SWAN VALLEY - Members of the Swan Valley Elementary School Board unanimously voted to follow the recommendations of the Missoula-City County Health Department (MCCHD) to rescind their mask mandate during their monthly board meeting Tuesday, May 11. As of Wednesday, May 12 students and staff are no longer required to wear masks on school grounds.

During the discussion Principal Ralph King said that he wanted to add the verbiage “optional” to whatever motion the Board would make to avoid implications.

“There’s nothing mandatory or recommended,” he said. “I don’t even like the word recommended, because that still tells people that I really think you should. And we’re at the point where it’s a parental or a family decision as to what they would like.”

Vice Chair Jimmy Boyd questioned if a motion was necessary at all.

“It’s kind of like making a motion to follow the law,” he said.

Ultimately the Board voted unanimously that they would follow MCCHD’s guidelines. This allows them to continue following them should MCCHD make any changes in the future.

The Board unanimously approved a $2,000 stipend for all eight full time staff members for a total of $16,000. These include three certified teachers, four classified teachers and Principal Ralph King. They were originally going to spend around $14,000 of their available $20,000, but the Board decided to increase it to $16,000 so that it could be split evenly among the eight full time school employees. This money came from the school’s savings since they were able to pay some of their expenses with Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER).

“I think that [the staff] all went above and beyond the call of duty and this is a gift of gratitude,” said board member Marcia Tapp. “It’s not something that they had to earn, it’s a gift [to] appreciate what they’ve done in this difficult time.”

They also unanimously approved a second reading of board policy updates for policies dealing with the general complaint procedures; child abuse, neglect and sex trafficking reporting; use of Federal Title I funds and personnel background checks. District Clerk Heather Mincey made wording clarification revisions to the policy regarding background checks.

The Board unanimously voted to approve King’s recommendation of eliminating one paraprofessional position for the 2021-2022 school year. King said with COVID-19 relief funds last year they were able to finance an additional para but because they will not have those funds this year they are unable to afford them.

“Please understand I do not like eliminating people,” King said. “I’ve had to do it in my life a number of times. It never gets any easier.”

During his report, King announced that the graduation ceremony for eighth graders would take place Tuesday, June 8 at 7 p.m. and would be open to public.

During the correspondence segment, Clerk Heather Mincey said a new law passed requiring every district to have a representative on the County Transportation Committee. This individual does not have to be a school board member but they would have to attend meetings in Missoula three to four times a year. The Board will choose someone by their next meeting.

The Board then went over how it would restructure itself for the upcoming year with members Todd McNutt and Tapp stepping down. Sophie Trull will fill McNutt’s position, however, the Board has yet to find Tapp’s replacement. Tapp said she would be willing to retain her position if the Board is unable to find another volunteer within their 60-day window.

Trull will be sworn into her position during a special meeting May 26.

Nathan Richardson, Boyd and Mincey will continue their current positions of chair, vice chair and clerk respectively.

In other business the board unanimously approved:

• A first reading for the reinsertion of board policy 3310 regarding engagements in academic misconduct

• The 2021-2022 school calendar and Missoula County election contract

• A stipend of $30 per day when paraprofessionals substitute for teachers

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for June 7 at 7 p.m. at Swan Valley Elementary School.