Montoursville approves health plan for optional masking | News, Sports, Jobs

The Montoursville Area School Board this week authorized a health and security plan for this faculty 12 months that retains in place optional masking of scholars and workers.

The plan additionally calls for the district to take into accounts the state Department of Health’s contact tracing necessities and optional exceptions as deemed by the Centers for Disease Control and/or the Department of Health.

Verbiage for contact tracing was altered from earlier language that known as for the district to “continue to follow the Department of Health contact tracing requirements.”

The vote was 8-1 in favor of the plan.

Voting sure have been Dale Ulmer, Ron Snell, Susan Beery, David Young, Dave Shimmel, Todd Badger, Daniel Albert, and Joseph LeCrone.

Dottie Mathers voted no.

In discussing the plan, Mathers mentioned she felt it was essential to really comply with the CDC and state suggestions.

“There are community risks,” she mentioned.

She mentioned she felt uncomfortable not following suggestions from the consultants.

To which board member Ron Snell mentioned, “How did recommendations of experts work out for you last time?”

Mathers mentioned she was involved each from a health and authorized perspective.

“I think ethically, morally, it’s good to follow the recommendations of the experts,” she mentioned. “I don’t want to teach our students that we fight the government all the time.”

Shimmel questioned who the consultants are.

“That is what has been maddening about this for two years,” he mentioned.

Albert mentioned the best choices will likely be made as conditions come up.

“As a district, we will do what we have to do,” he mentioned.

Shimmel famous that the district’s nursing workers comply with protocols for COVID-19.

In 2021, dad and mom of greater than a dozen Montoursville Area School District college students filed a lawsuit over a COVID-19 state masking mandate.

However, the litigation was eradicated when the district went to a masks optional coverage.

Dan Taormina, district assistant superintendent, thanked the board for preserving the plan just about the identical.

He mentioned it should assist present consistency for everybody going into the brand new faculty 12 months.

In different issues, the board authorized an settlement with BLaST IU 17 for web site internet hosting and with the Lycoming-Clinton Joinder Board for pupil assistant providers for this faculty 12 months.

The board authorized on first studying insurance policies masking participation in extracurricular actions and school-sponsored occasions together with ineligibility primarily based on use of managed substances and legal exercise.

In personnel issues, the board accepted the resignations of Brenda Lewis, cafeteria employee, and Lauren Guinter, health care aide.

The board authorized the hiring of Angelina Santalucia as a part-time paraprofessional at $12.75 per hour.

Mikayla Arnold was authorized as head coach for ladies softball at a stipend of $3,000. Arnold replaces Michael Tate.