The Fayette County Board on Tuesday night approved a resolution in support of local control following a brief presentation or explanation by Vandalia Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Garrison. County Board member Merrell Collins explained that he had asked Dr. Garrison to come speak to the board as there may be questions or confusion about different facts or information that either may not be known or everyone just may not have all the information. Dr. Garrison explained that the school has been using a leveled COVID-19 mitigation plan that is based on metrics that Garrison updates weekly and that the school district has worked closely with the Fayette County Health Department throughout the process of addressing COVID-19 in the district. Garrison also discussed the process that the school has been going through with the Illinois State Board of Education as far as being put on probation and going through appeals and the hearings with ISBE. The biggest factor sought out by the district is for them to get their due process, and Garrison and school board President Joe Lawson and Vice-President Joe Schaal who were both also in attendance, said to get that due process, the district is expecting to take the fight to court.
After some brief questions by some of the county board members, Collins requested that a motion to approve a resolution in support of local control be removed from the consent agenda and be read aloud in the meeting. County Board Chairwoman Jenny Waggoner read the resolution that was drafted in large part by board member Larry Emerick as he was praised for his work on the matter by Collins. A roll call vote was then taken on the resolution which was carried by a unanimous 11-0 vote as three board members were not present for the meeting.
The full text of the resolution is as follows:
“WHEREAS, the Fayette County Board wants to support the health of Fayette County residents; and,
WHEREAS, the Fayette County Board believes in the importance of local control and the importance of allowing locally elected officials to make the appropriate decisions for residents; and,
NOW, THEREFORE, the Fayette County Board wishes to express our support and appreciation to the work being performed by the Fayette County Health Department and express support for all Fayette County School Districts and elected School Board Members.”
Comments