The North Union School Board was asked to make masks in school voluntary by a crowd attending Monday’s meeting.
Boys basketball coach Brian Terrill told the board that during basketball season, he was in 11 different school district’s gymnasiums. Every district seemed to have different views on wearing masks during sporting events, but noted that of all the districts he visited, North Union was the most strict with their guidelines when it came to COVID-19 and the wearing of masks all during the school day.
Terrill said that many schools had more than the limit in attendance during sporting events that was recommended by Governor Mike Dewine. Some wore masks, some didn’t. North Union had very small crowds attending events this year, because they were given guidelines and the board followed those guidelines given to them by the state and county health departments.
Superintendent Rich Baird reported that during the pandemic, North Union had a little over 50 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and slightly over 700 students and staff who were under quarantine during the year. Currently, there are no confirmed cases in the district.
Board President Brian Davis said that looking at the most recent data, the trend of the pandemic is on the decline. With that said, he and a few other board members reiterated that they were just following the rules that were given to them, something that everyone will have to follow in their lifetime.
Some parents spoke to the board regarding the anxiety their children have had wearing masks continually, stating some of the students have difficulty breathing wearing a mask.
One parent said that while attending a track meet, the fence around the track was full with bystanders watching the competition. There was no social distancing followed and some wore masks and others did not.
During the meeting, a motion was added to the agenda, asking the board to make masks voluntary for students and staff. Each board member voted to approve making the wearing of masks voluntary, effective immediately. Although Governor Dewine has announced that effective June 2, the state of Ohio is lifting the mandate of having to wear masks in large gatherings, indoors and outside, the board listened to the parents and voted in favor of the voluntary action.
Also during the meeting, the board voted to hire Justin Ufferman as North Union High School Principal, on a two-year administrative contract. His contract begins Aug. 1, 2021, pending verification of licensure and BCI/FBI clearance. Ufferman is replacing the position held by Janel Chapman, who will become high school principal at Fairbanks School District.
In other business, the board:
•Heard from a student regarding the dress code regarding jeans she has worn to school. Her mother asked if a committee could be formed to go over the dress code and get a better understanding of it.
•Heard that a donation in the amount of $18,000 was made by Rita Rubeck Parker to be used at the high school for a trophy kiosk.
•Heard a donation was made by Cheryl Cooley of $1,000 for the Dr. Craig Cooley Scholarship Fund.
•Approved a memorandum of understanding between the board and the North Union Education Association to grandfather in current classified staff in regards to the contract schedule.
•Approved the employment of certificated/licensed individuals on multi-year contracts.
•Approved a three-year contract for Jared Evans, director of technology, on administrative scale.
•Accepted the hiring of summer school teachers;
•Hired Mitchell Loomis on a one-year replacement expiring contract as a second grade teacher at the elementary school;
•Approved the administrative steps at the start of the 2021-2022 contract year.
•Accepted the resignation of Kirby Robinson as Junior Class Advisor, effective April 26, 2021.
•Hired Kaitly Lafferty on a one-year contract as a math teacher at the high school.
The next regular board meeting will be held on June 21, 6:30 p.m. at the administrative offices.