The Vandalia School Board held a special meeting on Wednesday night during which the board approved a resolution by a vote of 6-1 to affirm local board control, or keep the decisions of COVID-19 mitigations to be used during the upcoming 2021-2022 school year with the board. Vandalia Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Garrison began the meeting explaining the ramifications and timeline that has been laid out by the Illinois State Board of Education that districts could face for not directly following along with the state mandate which most notably calls for masking in all state schools.
In a letter sent out to the state’s superintendents from ISBE State Superintendent Dr. Carmen Ayala, it states that if districts fail to follow the mandates, they risk their state recognition but would be given “multiple opportunities to remedy the deficiencies that present a health hazard” before a district would become unrecognized by the state. Garrison explained that to should it come to the district being called into a hearing with the state board, it goes back to the metrics of the community and district over the last 18 months to help tell Vandalia’s story. Taking a look at the metrics, Dr. Garrison pointed out where the COVID-19 case numbers trended upward and were then effected by the COVID-19 vaccines becoming widely available first for adults before being expanded to ages 12 and up. Dr. Garrison also pointed out how the district had made the careful steps to get the students back full time and said the district had been able to get from Point A to Point B which was getting the students back to school four and five days a week and now they look at getting from Point B to Point C where the vaccines would be available for students ages 11 and under which is the most vulnerable population right now.
Garrison then explained the three level mitigation plan to be used by the district for the upcoming school year and discussed the difference between other school districts who are also having this conversation and saying that numbers are different for all the counties and that this plan is her recommendation and that she believes it is time to tell Vandalia’s story to the State Board of Education.
School board members each then took a turn discussing their feelings and point of views on the situation with all voicing their support for the resolution with the exception of one board member who explained their reason that they would be voting against the resolution. Board member Kevin Satterthwaite stated after how the administration team and everyone in the district was able to “pivot” and adjust last school year based on case numbers and the other COVID-19 metrics and get kids back in school, he wants to see the district “push forward” and make decisions and adjustments based on local numbers and the local mitigation plan.
Board member Adam Braun spoke about his concern for the under 12 student population who cannot protect themselves with a vaccine at this time. Braun having three kids in that age group who are not eligible for the vaccines, says he does encourage kids wearing masks but regardless of anyone’s belief or opinion hopes that everyone will be kind to one another as this process and situation plays out.
Board member Joe Schaal says when the adjustments or “pivots” need to be made this year, he hopes it is something the whole district and community will do together.
The last board member to speak was Ryan Lewis who says while he does agree with the majority of the feelings expressed by the other board members, he would not be voting for the resolution as he feels the plan is reactive and not proactive.
Following the board members speaking, a roll call vote was taken with board members Kevin Satterthwaite, Joe Schaal, Therese Tate, Adam Braun, John Campbell and Joe Lawson all voting in favor of the resolution and board member Ryan Lewis voting against the resolution.
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