Three Bethel FFA Officers opened the monthly Bethel Board of Education meeting Monday evening. Chapter President Nate Stevenson, Secretary Colton Campbell, and Sentinal Remington Boone lead the flag salute and then spoke to the board about all things FFA.
Stevenson began announcing Bethel FFA has been named a 2021 3-Star Chapter. He said there are three areas, or stars, possible which include activities to grow leadership skills, chapter involvement in school and state activities, and community development including community service, community awareness, and community engagement.
Campbell said during the Pottawatomie County Free Fair members of the Bethel FFA received recognition for the champion whether lamb, reserve ewe lamb, and the champion goat.
Boone said the chapter will be helping the Methodist church with its annual food and toy drive in December.
The officers also talked about activities the chapter participated in over the summer and thus far this year. Stevenson said, “Later this year, we plan on going to the advanced leadership development training where we will have the opportunity to further our leadership skills and learn from professionals in the agriculture world. We have had a very active fall semester thus far and look forward to many more exciting FFA activities in our future.”
Marlee Affentranger and Kinsley Clannin also addressed the board regarding implementing a school pom squad.
Affentranger said she, Clannin and Portlynn Franetovich (who could not attend due to being quarantined) had visited with four other local schools who currently have pom squads to gather information. The young ladies prepared a six page handout that they previously presented to Superintendent Dr. Matt Posey.
The handout included information on start up costs and fundraising ideas. Affentranger said the information presented for the Bethel Pom Squad was most closely modeled after North Rock Creek since it was a very new program.
When finished, Posey thanked the girls for going through all the proper channels to gather the information and for presenting the idea to the board.
Board President David Elmore said he thought it was an “awesome idea.”
Posey said the fifth grade had to be transitioned to virtual learning due to several students testing positive. He said the determining factor, though, was a staffing issue. “We didn’t have enough staff to provide in person instruction. We had several of those staff members that tested positive as well.”
The COVID 19 protocols within the Return To Learn Plan were discussed at length. Posey said the majority of the positives are in the Upper Elementary (8 students, 4 staff) and the Middle School (9 students, 1 staff). The Lower Elementary and High School each had one student test positive. Three staff tested positive in the LE while none had tested positive in the high school.
Posey said the numbers presented represent where the school is right now, as of today. Total quarantines for Bethel school, including students and staff, is 156 according the report.
Board member Brandon Bussell said, “We need to do what’s best for the health and safety, but we also need to provide the best education.”
“Does anyone disagree that being in class provides the best education,” asked Bussell. “One of the things that gives me pause, I was looking over the weekend, trying to figure out what is the standard.”
“It seems to be the wild west,” Bussell said. “Everybody is doing something different, even in Pott. County. There are schools around here that are not requiring students to be gone for that long. If somebody is sick they do not need to be here. That is not what I’m saying.”
Posey said, “My goal is, I want students in school. I don’t want them out.”
He said, “State test scores came out last week. They’re a mess based on lack of instruction for the last year and a half.”
Board member Susan Watson said, “We do need to have a policy in place. Not having one is more harmful to our students.”
Elmore said he had friends who currently have the virus and are not doing well and others who have recently passed. “It’s tough.”
“It’s definitely a Russian Roulette virus,” said Elmore. “But you don’t want to get someone sick unknowingly…but I want the kids in school.”
Bussell said, “I feel like we lack the data to make this determination. I want to know, are the quarentines values added. Are they accomplishing keeping people safe, commensurate with a level that its negatively affecting their education.”
He said, “I feel like 8 to 10 days is a really long time to quarantine if we don’t have the data to show that we’re keeping people safe by keeping them out of school.”
The board eventually agreed to revisit the COVID 19 protocols at the next meeting. Posey will gather more data for the members to review at that time.
Posey updated the board on the bond project stating bids had been received and a rough draft was included with the agenda packet. “We will look to review, discuss, and possibly take action on those bids in an upcoming special meeting, possibly Oct. 18.”
The board accepted the resignation of John Raney (custodial support personnel), and Ashley Hill (support staff). It also approved the hiring of Holly Bittner as computer lab assistant.
In other business, the board approved:
Meeting dates for the 2022 calendar year
2021-2022 athletic extra-duty stipend schedule
Resolution calling for election of board seat 2
Gifted and Talented advisory committee for 2021-2022
Adopting the OSSBA Superintendent Evaluation Instrument
