School board holds special emergency meeting

GENTRY — A special school board meeting was held just before graduation on Friday evening. Actions taken at the meeting include the following:

1. Terrie Metz, district superintendent, updated the board on the district reopening plan, with 200 currently signed up for the virtual academy.

2. Metz discussed with the board a change in virtual education to include a committee that will review the parent requests for virtual or on-site instruction. This may make it possible for parents and students not to have to wait for an entire semester to enter or exit onsite learning. The committee will decide the best time for the transition. Enrollment for the virtual academy was again extended, this time to July 17.

3. Job descriptions were sent out to certified staff, with the district looking for volunteers to be virtual instructors.

4. Discussed was the new requirement that someone be the district’s point of contact. This person is expected to be available 24/7 to deal with covid-19 cases and tracing and contacting appropriate people.

5. The classified salary schedule approved on an emergency on Tuesday, July 7, was brought up again to give board members the option for discussion since so many were present via video conferencing at the earlier meeting.

6. The board approved, on emergency, the position of director of operations. This position has transportation, custodial, maintenance and food service under its job description and the board approved the position.

7. Jason Barrett was moved to the position of director of operations and will be the district appointed point of contact person, with Metz being the backup.

8. The board was told the calendar was going to be changed due to the Arkansas Governor pushing back the school start date to August 24. A new calendar was to be sent out to teachers and staff Monday, with another special meeting to be called to approve the new calendar.