Groves, cont.

liaison.

Jared Egger and Mattix were nominated to serve on the JGSC Technology Committee. The board voted to approve that nomination. Bill Groves was nominated to serve on the John Glenn High School (JGHS) Athletic Council. The board approved that nomination. As far as the High Abilities Committee, Dan Drotar was nominated to serve on it.

The board then set the regular board meeting dates and times. Normally, the board meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 7 p.m. After a little discussion, it was kept the same for this year.

Board salary was set at $2,000 annually. It was mentioned that it hasn’t changed in over 20 years. The superintendent did mention that it could be set at a per meeting basis with a maximum of $112 per regular meeting and $62 for other meetings.

The services of Newby, Lewis, Kaminski and Jones, LLP as board attorney were retained from the prior year.

The board then voted to authorize the superintendent to employee substitute personnel.

In his report, Superintendent Winchell gave a COVID-19 update.

“We continue to be very fortunate here not to have mass outbreaks amongst our schools, not to have major issues in our sports teams. We have continued to have the handful of positive cases over the course of the week and depending on where that kiddo is involved there,” said Winchell. “The schools have really proven their ability to keep things pretty under control here in our environments.”

Having said that, he added that he watches the daily positivity rate and noted that during late November, St. Joseph County was at 15% positivity. At that point, the high school went virtual and during the Christmas break, the county positivity rate declined.

“Now that everything’s kind of been back up and running, we are seeing that St. Joe County positivity rate climb back up,” Superintendent Winchell said commenting that it’s around the 14% range.

The superintendent was asked if he’d heard anything regarding availability of COVID vaccines for teachers. Winchell responded that the state started at 80 and over range. He said that school nurses have been put into the nursing category and the JGSC nurses have already begun to be vaccinated.

“Educators themselves are not in the top tier, but we’re about in the fourth tier in general, but they are starting with people by age and then they’re going to circle back,” Winchell said.

Superintendent Winchell also updated the board on the solar farm project to be located at North Liberty Elementary School. It went before the St. Joseph County Board of Zoning Appeals on Wednesday. It’s already been approved by the North Liberty Town Board. It will come back before the North Liberty Town Board on Monday night for the final approval. Contractors are ready to start the project on Tuesday morning.

The high school varsity gym floor has received its first coat of sealant. Another coat will placed next week.