The Morongo Unified School District Board of Trustees met in open session last night where they swore in new Trustees Megan Berge, Robert Hamilton, and Cathy Nelson; and returning Board Member Kerri Condley. With new trustees welcomed, the board went on to a bleak report on the tentative reopening of district schools for in-person learning. Reporter Andrew Dieleman has more…
Assistant Superintendent Amy Woods led a presentation to the board on the challenges facing the school district if in-person learning is to commence on the district’s tentative reopening date of January 19—the primary issue being the need for an in-person waiver, which the San Bernardino County health department is highly unlikely to grant since the County still sits firmly in the purple tier of coronavirus cases. Other reported factors included, but were not limited to, reported opposition from school counselors, teachers, and nurses; the further disruption in student education and burden on teachers in switching to a new education model; the cancelation of band and choir classes and increased disinfection protocols for physical education courses; class scheduling concerns from teachers, counselors, and principals; transportation issues; and numerous reports from surrounding school districts who have also canceled all in-person learning. Woods ended the presentation strongly suggesting the district not begin any in-person learning in January. The board will hold a special meeting no later than Friday where a final decision will be made.
The board also held its reorganization meeting, electing officer positions for the next term. Hillary Slotta will return as board president for her third term and Kerri Condley as board clerk for her second term. The board also voted to make Megan Berge the district representative for County Committee on School District Organization; Cathy Nelson the legislative representative, and Robert Hamilton as secretary to the board. Assistant Superintendent Mike Ghelber presented Slotta with a plaque on behalf of the school district thanking her for her previous year of dedication as president of the board.
The board also received a presentation on the 2019-2020 Statutory Schools Facility Report. According to Maintenance and Facilities Director David Daniels, the school district completed just over $1 million in maintenance and update projects during this time. The school district also reviewed the district’s five-year plan featuring more than $89 million in scheduled facility repairs and updates.
Lastly, the board adopted a new policy on reporting infectious diseases, approved the purchase of new phonics textbooks for elementary students, and adopted the previously discussed Statutory School Facilities Report.
