Large Crowd At SCSD#2 Board Meeting

Leslie Haberkern, new food services director, speaks about the Ranch to School Program

COVID-19 and student bullying were topics that community members expressed concern over at Monday nights SCSD #2 meeting. Around 30 people attended and many spoke with great passion about both subjects, kids being bullied for wearing or not wearing masks, and the fact that Governor Gordon has said that masks are optional in schools this fall and not wanting children to be forced to wear masks in school.

In the COVID-19 plan outlined for the upcoming school year, Superintendent Stults said that masks will be optional in the school buildings, on the school grounds as well as on the buses. The district will adhere to the guidelines from state and local health officials for quarantine and isolation.

Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate, the same applies to individuals who are in close contact with positive cases. Vaccinated individuals are not required to quarantine if exposed to a positive case.

Students and staff must self-screen before coming to school and if a person is ill with COVID-19 symptoms they are required to stay home.

Although students are not required to wear masks back and forth to school on buses, students and coaches/sponsors are required to wear masks on activity buses.

Several parents took the podium on the subject of bullies in Sheridan County District 2 Schools.

Douglas Wheeler, parent, had this to say on the subject of both masks and bullies.

He added that it has been a tough year on everyone, but he wondered if the school board will go with the wishes of the parents. He said he has seen no statistics either way on wearing masks in schools. Board Chairman Sue Wilson said they board would take his comments under advisement.

Other concerns were expressed on the children wearing mask to protect other people, such as grandparents, who might have compromised immune systems that the virus might be passed on to.

Parent Kandy Wheeler, no relation to Doug Wheeler, spoke on how her youngsters were bullied, and wondered what the SCSD#2 policy was against bullying. She said she had three children in SCSD #2, last year, one is graduated, one chose to receive her GED due to being bullied in school, and another one in junior high has a sensory disorder and was denied virtual learning. She felt she received no help from the teachers or the administration on the problem.

Superintendent Scott Stults said that Sheridan County Schools has a zero tolerance policy on bullying, and that parents should talk to teachers, then principals, and then come to him should they receive no satisfaction from the them. Board member Ed Fessler added that the school board is not the enemy, “We are trying to protect your children,” he said.

Other items on the agenda included the introduction of Troy Decker, new director of capital construction, who reported on the completion of John C. Schiffer Collaborative School. He said a temporary certificate of occupancy has been awarded. Teachers will be there by next week. Chairman Wilson said that she was impressed when the board toured the new building.

Decker also said that gym bleachers and backboards are almost complete.

Superintendent Stults introduced Leslie Haberkern, new food service director and she gave a report on the Ranch to School program.

Ranchers involved in the program are currently the Padlock Ranch, Cato Ranch, Sheridan Ranches and Sheridan County Conservation district that purchased cattle to donate to the program.

Mitch Craft gave a report on the Fifth Street property, which was once owned by Holly Sugar. He said that there were some public meetings on the property, with suggestions ranging from using the property for school gardens, due to the existing greenhouses; developing curriculum and programs integrating sustainable and local food productions into schools; enhance opportunities for inclusion of local foods in the school; use the property to host evens such as FFA Conferences, or growers conferences, and many other ideas were suggested. The Fifth Street property is an on going project for the school district and community input is encouraged.

The board adjourned for an executive session at 7:14 pm.