Superior schools open today; masks will not be required

Covid-19 guidelines were again discussed Monday evening during the August session at the Superior Board of Education meeting.

School will open today (Thursday) operating in the green COVID operational zone: with no COVID-19 cases in school, low numbers in the community, no community spread and a vaccine available for those 12 years old and older. School will be conducted as normal with staff, students and families personally responsible for safety precautions and personally monitoring for any signs of the virus. There will not be mask requirements.

Not much changes through the yellow zone when there are a few cases in the community and no community spread.

However, should the time come when there are several active COVID-19 cases in school, community spread and active cases in the community, guidelines will change. Temperature checks will be conducted at school twice each day, breakfast will again be served in the classroom, there will be no field trips, water fountains closed and students encouraged to bring water bottles, outside groups may not use the facility, etc. Depending on the situation, the school board may call a special meeting to change the guidelines as they wish.

The Operational Zones are available on the school website and addresses both parental and staff responsibilities and provides guidance through all levels including when the school building will close because of COVID-19.

Monday evening the board agreed to follow State Directive Health Measures for both facemasks and transportation guidelines.

Supt. Kobza said, "We're naive to think it (COVID-19) will not hit the school community."

As school begins 16 percent of students between 12 and 17 years of age in the South Heartland Health District are vaccinated for COVID-19 and only 50 percent of those eligible to receive the vaccine have been vaccinated.

Earlier this week, South Heartland Health District officials reported the Delta variant COVID-19 cases are doubling each week in the district and they fear the trend will continue.

Board members listened to good news from Jacob Hurla, president of Community Building Solutions. Hurla met with the board via Zoom. The school district had contracted with Community Building Solutions to oversee the air conditioning of two gymnasiums and update school-wide lighting with the promise of energy savings. The 12 months of 2019 were used as a baseline. Even with the additional air conditioned space (gymnasiums) there was a 17.9 percent electric consumption decrease attributed to LED lighting. February was unusually cold with temperatures hovering near 20 below 0 degree F. for several days, so significantly more electric energy was used that month. Slightly more was also used during the hottest months of the year, July and August.

Natural gas consumption deceased approximately 19.5 percent. Most of the savings was during the winter and was to be expected because the scope of the project centered around the installation of natural gas-fired rooftop units for the gymnasiums. The units are both more efficient than the previous systems and more easily scheduled off and on. Total savings for the district was $17,755.

Both Bob Cook, middle school and secondary principal, and Jody Fierstein, elementary principal, reviewed preliminary enrollment projections. Prekindergarten – has 34 students, is full and has a waiting list. Kindergarten has 30, first grade – 28, second grade – 27; third grade 24, fourth grade 25 and fifth grade 29 for a total enrollment of 163.

Middle school has 28 in sixth grade, 23 in seventh grade and 39 in eight grade.

There are 32 freshmen enrolled, 31 sophomores, 40 juniors and 29 seniors for a total high school enrollment of 222. The figure represents 97 girls and 125 boys. As school closed last spring there were 216 enrolled, so enrollment has climbed slightly over the summer for the middle school and high school.

Fierstein said, "Elementary staff had an amazing professional development summer. 54 graduate level credits were earned and 35 days of training or curriculum work completed."

There was minimal discussion concerning the Nebraska State Health Standards and CRT (Critical Race Theory.) However, board members' packets contained a letter from Senator Dave Murman. The letter was addressed to Matt Sullivan, president of the Superior Board of Education.

"The opening of the letter reads as follows: "It is with great concern that I write to you today. For years the parents, guardians and local officials of our state have wholeheartedly rejected Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE) curriculum in Nebraska's Schools. Yet, upon drafting their new Health Education Standards, the Nebraska Department of Education has taken it upon itself to not only include CSE, but other highly controversial content as well.

"On July 1st, 30 Nebraska state senators issued a joint letter opposing the Nebraska Department of Education's proposed health standards and calls on local school boards to adopt resolutions to reject the propose health standards and retain local control over the content of their health curriculums.

"As I'm sure that you're aware, the proposed health standards contain many troubling aspects ... and have received overwhelming opposition at public forums by those who believe parents should decide when their children learn delicate topics of life." Peggy Meyer moved to adopt a resolution which rejects the Health Education Standards proposed to the Nebraska Department of Education. As a result, the district will determine the content of the local health education curriculum.

Paul Heusinkvelt, athletic director, lead discussion related to a request from Deshler Public Schools for a cooperative wrestling program for the 2021-22 school year. The proposal was accepted. Heusinkvelt expects four to six wrestlers from the Deshler District including two girls. Superior already has one girl interested. They will wrestle girls in competition. Heusinkvelt said girls wrestling is a rapidly expanding sport in Nebraska. Supt. Kobza added, "It is an Olympic sport."

Heusinkvelt asked the board to change Wednesday evening sport practice policy for middle school students. Currently, they are not allowed to practice on Wednesday evenings. He requested they be allowed to practice one hour and be finished by 5 p.m.

" It is a huge safety factor when they are not prepared," he said. "Even a little time gives a coach a huge advantage."

"During basketball season, there are games scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday. If they play with no Wednesday practice, a coach has trouble with a game plan which is a safety factor."

The change will require Board members to place the item on the agenda and change a policy which could possible be done near the end of the football season.

There seemed to be a consensus among the board that a change in policy would be acceptable. However, Luke Meyers, a board member said, " If they practice until 5 p.m., they will eat supper and will not go to church anyway."

Members of the board approved July expenditures from the general fund of $844.248.82.

Beside salary, major expenditures addressed the development of an elementary reading book room. The district is moving away from purchased textbooks and developing an English Language Arts Reading room. The room will house decodable readers organized by sound patterns, leveled readers and read aloud novels. ESSER money is partly financing the new reading room. It is part of the district move to individualized instruction to address the full learning spectrum represented by elementary students.

During the public presentation portion of the meeting, Andrew Miller addressed the board. He thanked them for the proactive coaching program and said all parents, coaches and staff would benefit from it. "Team work is not just for sport," he said.

He also asked the board to let parents "own their own health."

"The job of school is to educate," he said, "Not to care for community health.

"I am willing to take more risks if it means my kids will have more opportunities," he concluded.

Adult meal prices were raised from $2.10 to $2. 40 for breakfast and from $3.50 to $4 for lunch.

The activities handbook was approved. The biggest changes this year relate to Title 9.

Supt. Kobza expects student lockers to be ready Thursday when school starts. The new lockers are 18 inches wide and will easily hold backpacks and coats. They are replacing lockers which were nine inches wide.

The board entered into executive session at 9:20 to discuss personnel.

A budget workshop is scheduled for Monday evening at 6 p.m.