Alva Review-Courier -

As the South Barber Board of Education December meeting opened Monday night, Superintendent Dr. Mylo Miller thanked the board for their “unified approach” and “flexibility to keep our doors open.”

“Our board always keeps academics first,” he said.

The superintendent anticipates “January and February will be precarious,” adding that those months usually are anyway with the flu, etc. He said, “We are administratively working out a plan to keep our doors open” and “we are wearing masks, social distancing washing our hands and using hand sanitizer.”

He plans to reevaluate after spring break “to see what the last nine weeks will look like.” Later in the meeting, the board approved the SB USD 255 Adaptation Plan extension until the end of the third quarter in 2021.

The board again met in the spacious high school library for social distancing and wore masks. All but one board member (Ryan Molz) was present, including President Mark Pollock, Bryan Quick, Emily Lohmann, Mike Miller, Deb Helfrich and Jenna Mostert (via video conference). Grade 7-12 Principal Brent Shaffer and Assistant Elementary Principal Kaynette Scheck also attended, as did Minutes Clerk Julie Johnson.

The superintendent announced that Blue Cross/Blue Shield gave a $1,000 gift to SB USD255 to purchase roller skates for elementary students to use in school. This is to help promote exercise and good health.

The board met in executive session for 15 minutes. After that several hires and a resignation were board approved. Phil Sill, special education teacher, was hired as a bus driver as the superintendent said Sill has all the qualifications.

Sameta Thayer resigned as custodian. Dr. Miller recommended hiring Luda Anderson as a part-time evening custodian which the board approved. He said custodian Lisa Woods dropped a hammer on her toe. This left the school short-handed and he said, “We really need to sanitize our buildings at night.” He suggested all three part-time custodian positions be combined to make a full-time position.

Bailey Roberts received board approval as a substitute teacher if needed.

The board held another five-minute executive session before they voted to hire Nicole Perez as assistant girls basketball coach at the high school. She is assisting Coach Murphy.

Consideration of the superintendent's contract was on the agenda. Dr. Miller handed out forms for the board members to use. His contract will be reviewed in January.

Monthly expenditures totaling $338,977.89 were approved.

The Mental Toll of the Covid Environment

Helfrich reported on the virtual state school board convention she “attended.” She said that because of the tremendous burden the Covid environment has put on everyone, the message from the state is to keep your people safe. There is more stress and there are more emotional issues this year. It's greatly affecting some students, not to mention adults.

Board member Lohmann asked if there is a cost to students to use the mental liaison service. Miller said yes and said they are working on that. Lohmann said, “I don't want students to not get it because of the cost.” Miller confirmed that presently there are eight students district-wide using the mental liaison.

Shaffer said, “There's more damage mentally than the virus.” He added, “We have to get past the stigma.”

“I want to insure we serve all the kids who need it,” Lohmann said.

Discussion turned to how greatly the distance learning negatively affected students at the local and national level. Helfrich had stats that some areas reportedly lost 25 percent of their kids.

Administrative Reports

As different individuals spoke, they mentioned how much everyone appreciates the winter stipends given to them.

Dr. Miller said he applied for a daycare license last week. Mostert pointed out it is for a “home” daycare because they are so small. The “home” has far less restrictions than a daycare “center,” she said.

Principal Shaffer said they are testing this week at the high school. In a separate article in today's Newsgram, Shaffer told about the latest KSHSAA rules regarding ballgames and other extra-curricular activities.

Regarding the annual Block the Door food raising event for Kiowa's Food Pantry, Shaffer said they are collecting donations from the community. He expects to make at least a $1,500 donation.

The principals and superintendent each had lengthy reports of student activities and good things going on in their classrooms. Many of those run in separate stories.