By Wanda Hanson
The Houston School Board wrestled with how to balance safety and the desire of students and parents for a sense of normalcy during COVID as they met October 15, 2020.
The Southeast Conference decided that schools will be allowing visitors at volleyball games based on 25% of their gym capacity. For Houston High School this maximum capacity will be 116 people including players, coaches, refs, and spectators. Some area schools will not be able to fit any parents into their gyms while a few others can have 250 total people in theirs. Ultimately, the board decided to allow each Houston player to purchase two tickets at $5.00 each. Parents will be assigned seats to ensure social distancing and the ability to contact trace. Parents are expected to wear masks. If they refuse to wear masks, they will be removed from the list of spectators and will no longer allowed in. Unfortunately, no visiting parents will be able to attend. All C team volleyball will be played at the high school as well. The games will be live-streamed with the link on the school’s website.
All football tickets will be presale only at $6.00 each and will be available at the schools set to compete. When Mimi Carlson asked if some schools are requiring masks to be worn at football games, Superintendent Krin Abraham responded that each school is different and the regulations are being enforced to a different degree. Chairman Tom Stilin reminded the Houston fans that “as fans, we need to be respectful of others’ facilities.”
Most schools are streaming the football games as well through various sources. Host schools choose what they use to stream their games. Some are using NFHS which charges viewers $11.00 a game. Michaeleen Bonner asked if the Houston games could be recorded as well for future viewing. Abraham will check out that possibility. Guest teams are not allowed to tape the away games at other schools, however. Gene Lundak asked if games could be streamed to the local TV channel; the cost of such a broadcast is estimated to be $40,000 and could not be funded through CARES.
Spectators at other activities were discussed. Abraham commented, “I do NOT feel comfortable to have visitors coming in when we have students here.” Homecoming coronation will be live-streamed through the school and online with no attendance by parents or students. No decisions have been made yet on other future events. The elementary gym has a maximum capacity of 68; this is not enough space for even the students who normally are involved in concerts, etc.
Abraham asked the board to think about what would be done with activities if the school had to go to distance learning. If the school was ordered to go to distance learning by MDH or MDE, then the school could not participate in any activities, but if the school chose to go to distance learning, the board could decide whether activities could continue. Abraham presented three choices: 1) If due to staff shortage still participate in activities, but if due to COVID, cancel planned activities; 2) if school goes to distance learning for any reason, activities would be canceled; 3) if school chooses to go to distance learning for any reason and are not forced to by MDH or MDE, they would still continue with activities. The board will make a decision at their next meeting.
Elementary Learning
Model name change
Abraham informed the board that MDH requires that all students have a component of distance learning included for the learning model designation “hybrid” to be used. The elementary has no distance learning at this time. They are following all the social distancing and masking requirements stipulated in the hybrid requirements. They will continue with current precautions, but the model will need to be called “in person.” The threshold for the elementary to go to hybrid is a county number of 20. Currently county numbers are at 19.29. Positive antibody tests are going to be included in county totals as well; this could push numbers over 20.
It is possible to remain as they are even if that number is surpassed. Abraham said Wednesday could be made a distance learning day if necessary, but she’d rather just change the name to “in person.”
Other business
In other business the board:
•Set November 19, 2020, at 6:30 for the statute-required World’s Best Workforce Public hearing, acknowledging that at this point there was little data to be used for the hearing; hired two more MNVA counselors, increased contracts with 15 MNVA teachers, and did hiring memos with eight more teachers for activities and clubs; recognized and thanked retiring board member Ron Evenson for his 35 years of service on the board; Abraham extolled Evenson, “You always provided a sound, stabilizing, thoughtful approach!”;
•Extended “deep sympathy and heartfelt gratitude” for Audrey Hegland, a former board member. Abraham earnestly declared, “Her loss is deeply felt.”
The next board meeting will be November 5, 2020, at 6 p.m. The public is welcome to attend; comments may also be made on the school webpage.
Leave a Reply