The North Union Board of Education held its regular meeting Monday evening and heard a report of how the COVID-19 virus has affected the school district. Superintendent Rich Baird updated board members with statistics.
From Oct. 5 through Nov. 16, students spent 29 days in classrooms. After Thanksgiving, the district went to Level 4, which was a complete remote learning program for six days.
Most recently, students spent the last 15 days before Christmas break on the hybrid level.
Group 1(students whose last names begin A-K) attended school on Mondays and Tuesdays.
All students took online classes on Wednesdays.
Group 2 (students whose lasts names begin L-Z) then went to school on Thursdays and Fridays.
Baird reported from Sept. 8 through Dec. 21, there were 17 students and 16 staff members who tested positive for the virus.
Through this period, there were 89 staff and 413 students who were in isolation as a safety precaution since they had been in contact with someone who had COVID-19.
To date, 66 staff members and students have been in quarantine, while seven staff/students are in isolation.
During the virus, one concern was making sure students had sufficient food.
It was reported that no student went without food.
That was due to the work of the district’s food service, volunteers preparing packed meals and bus drivers to deliver them.
There are approximately 80 to 120 meals being delivered each day.
Baird stated many people were involved in the process and added he is deeply appreciative of their efforts.
A representative from the Ohio School Board Association (OSBA), Kim Miller-Smith, was a virtual guest during the meeting.
She announced two awards that were given by the OSBA.
The first award went to Bev Wasserbeck, chosen for an Exemplary Employee Award.
Wasserbeck is the food service director for the North Union and Ridgemont school districts. She has worked in the food service at North Union since 1996 and was promoted as the food service director several years ago.
She has been instrumental in seeing that healthy menus were made and, especially during the pandemic, getting meals packed and delivered to students unable to attend school.
The second award went to Rita Parker. She received the Friend of Public Education Award.
Parker is both a supporter of North Union Schools and the Richwood community. She has served on many civic organizations, attends sporting events (before COVID-19) and retired with 30 years in education.
She is a scholarship donor and has also donated money to the new athletic facilities over the past few years.
In other business, the board:
-Set the next regular and organizational board meeting for Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 6 p.m. in the district offices;
-Approved Alec O’Reilly and Skyler Cowgill as high school wrestling volunteers;
-Appointed Matt Staley as president pro tem for the 2021 organizational meeting Jan. 6, 2021;
-Adopted a resolution declaring Monday, Jan. 4, 2021 as North Union Schools Excellent Pandemic Response Day.
The resolution acknowledges all the efforts of the district staff, students and families for their sense of community and support during times of uncertainty.