Alva Review-Courier -

The Cherokee Public Schools Board of Education held its special meeting April 9 online, using Zoom web conferencing software.

Virtually present were board members Kory Littlefield, Desiree Gibson, Amber Wilhite, Shane Parker and Kurtis Goodwin. Encumbrance Clerk Judy Porter and Superintendent Donna Anderson were also virtually present.

Distance Learning Underway; 3,000 Meals Served in 1 Week

Distance learning began in Cherokee in early April; teachers and the administration team “worked very hard to put out a really good plan,” Superintendent Anderson told the board at its April 9 meeting. “It seems to be going well,” she said.

“The other thing is last week we provided 3,000 meals, breakfast and lunch. So, 300 kids a day are getting breakfast and lunch, so we're really excited about that,” Anderson said, adding that the program would continue through the summer. “This is at no cost to Cherokee Public Schools,” she said.

The board approved granting emergency powers to Superintendent Anderson, who assured the board that she would make sure to keep them apprised of any significant decisions she planned to make so that she could get their input.

Financial Assistance for Cherokee Students Attending NWOSU

The board voted to pay the books and fees for Cherokee High School's juniors and seniors attending NWOSU for the 2020-21 school year “or until such time as NWOSU reinstates the funding or Cherokee Public School cannot continue the financial obligation.” The Cherokee school district will pay for six hours per year per student, but the wording was changed to reflect the current distance learning environment. Instead of specifying that tuition would be paid for, that word was changed to “books and fees.”

“I talked to Judy (Porter) this morning and the cost is under $2,000 a semester, or right in there,” said Anderson, “So I feel like we're still okay making that commitment to the kids.”

Personnel Re-hired

The board approved a resolution to Change the School Calendar and Ensure Employee Pay.

“This is the resolution to let me pay them the rest of their contract,” said Superintendent Anderson. “Most are on a 12-month contract; some are 10-month, some 11-month, and those are the ones we're talking about.” The other staff would be addressed in a later agenda item, she said.

Later, the board approved re-hiring all certified and/or support personnel for the 2020-21 school year.

Bond Questions Settled

The board approved a resolution determining the maturities of, and setting a date, time and place for the sale of the $760,000 Taxable Combined Purpose Building Bonds, and designating bond counsel. Board President Kory Littlefield said, “the dates we're looking at are May 27, 28, 29. We're leaning toward May 28 at noon.” After checking schedules, Littlefield moved that the date be set for May 28 at noon, and the motion was passed.

The board considered an agenda item that would appoint an acting president and/or acting clerk for the school district – should the president and/or clerk be absent – to execute “any and all documents pertaining to setting the maturities, date, time and place of the bond sale.” The board took no action on the matter.

Other Board Business

Some general housekeeping items the board approved included:

• a statutory waiver/exemption application for the school to hold its parent/teacher conferences following a regular school day during the 2020-21 school year.

• the Alfalfa County Interlocal Agreement for the 2020-21 school year.

• the HB 1864 Method, where Cherokee Public Schools documents 1080 hours of school instead of the traditional method of 180 days for the 2020-2021 school year.

• the Resolution for Schools and Libraries Universal Services (E-Rate) for 2020-2021. This resolution authorizes filing form 471 applications for funding year 2020-2021 and the payment of the application's share upon approval of funding and receipt of services.

The board also approved the consent agenda: minutes of past meetings; general fund and child nutrition fund encumbrances, warrants, purchase orders and balances, along with building fund encumbrances, purchase orders and balances; the activity fund balances and treasurer's report on balances; and surplussing an old color printer in the ag classroom that's not working anymore.