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Shelton Mason County Journal
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July 2, 2020     Shelton Mason County Journal
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July 2, 2020
 
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Page A-40 ~ Shelf!“ F.“ D" ta Page A—2 - Shelton-Mason County Journal — Thursday, July 2020 District makes fall p She/ton attend on is; ease. was; gordon@masoncounty. com The coronavirus has dealt Shelton School District a sum- mer of uncertainties, includ- ing the amount of money it will receive from the state, and whether its 4,000-plus students in September will learn in district classrooms, at home or some combination. The district is preparing for possible budget cut scenarios of between $2.1 million and $10.7 million for the 2020-21 school year. Almost 87% of the district’s budget is used to pay employees, so cuts means lay- ing off certified and classified staff. Seven district subcommit- tees, composed of more than 200 residents and district staff members, are developing fall plans that include social distancing in classrooms, caf- eterias and on school buses. The budget and fall reopen- ing plans were discussed at a district community forum con- ducted Tuesday evening Via Zoom. . Superintendent Alex Apos- tle said the state reports it will fund 93% of the district’s budget, as required by law, but he hasn’t received verifi- cation yet. The school board has been meeting for study sessions every Thursday to study bud- get reduction scenarios for the 2020—21 school year that range from 3.6%, or $2.1 mil- lion, to 16.5%, $10.7 million. “We don’t know what we need to do to meet our budget- ary situation,” Apostle said. Nevertheless, the district is required to submit a pro— posed 2020—21 budget by July 10 to Educational Service Dis- trict 113, said finance director Brenda Trogstad. The pro- posed budget will be posted on the district’s website that day, she said. The Shelton School Board is scheduled to consider a first reading of the 2020—21 budget We deliver or U-haul 95] W. KAMILCHE [ME IN SHELTON OPEN MONDAY-FHIBAY, 7AM-4PM Shelton High School Class of 2020 graduate Nicole Marie Rowell poses for photos June prior to her drive-thru commencement ceremony in front of the high school. The district is preparing for possible budget cut scenarios of between $2.1 million and $10.7 million for the school year. Journal photo by Gordon Weeks at its regular board meeting at 6 p.m. Aug. 14. The board is scheduled to adopt the bud- get at its meeting at 6 p.m. Aug. 28, following a public hearing. Apostle said he doesn’t want to “make any hasty de- cisions” on detailing possible layoffs. “We don’t want to upset people, or cause anxiety for our staff,” he said. He added, “I wish we had more con- crete information When we know, you’re going to know.” The pandemic prompted the district to close its schools March 13. For three months, students learned at home with guidance from their teachers, some assisted by about 2,500 Chromebooks borrowed from the district. The number of people in- fected by COVID-19 will help determine whether full-time “distance learning” will again be the case, or in the schools, or a combination. Tuesday’s community fo— rum included updates from NORTHWEST INC. ‘ ‘ TAYLOR TflWNE [IllllllBY NflW OPEN! NWBflBK£0M six of the seven district sub- committees. The subcommit— tees will present their pro- posed fall plans to the district on July 8, and the plans are scheduled to finish July 15. But changing events mean “they will be fine-tuned into the fall,” Apostle said. The safety of the students, staff and parents is the pri- mary concern in making these decisions, the superintendent said. Much of the discussion fo- cused on where students will learn. District officials are wondering whether the build— ings have enough space to ac- commodate social distancing of 6 feet between students, who will be required to wear face masks and have their temperatures taken each day at the school building door. Kelly Neely, chair of the re- mote learning and traditional education model subcommit- tee, said 89% of committee members favor a rotating schedule for the students. One suggestion proposes placing half the students in a class in the school buildings one day, the other half learn- ing from home. They would then rotate each day, Neely said. Under another scenario, half the students in a class would be in the classroom on Mondays and Tuesdays, the other half learning at home. On Wednesdays, everyone learns from home while the school is cleaned. The other half of the students come to classroom on Thursdays and Fridays while the first group learns at home. An outbreak of the coro- navirus could shut the doors, Neely said. “We are not in control of this virus, so we have to look at options,” she said. Apostle said he realizes these scenarios are “really tough on our parents.” Child care “needs to be a component we put into the recommenda— tion,” he said. Trogstad, the finance direc- tor, also leads the subcommit— lans despite uncertainties tee that is looking into child- hood nutrition and transpor- tation. They are measuring the school cafeterias to see whether the rooms can accom- modate 6-foot social distanc- ing at the tables and in the food lines, she said. All the meals will be packaged, Trog- stad added. Committee members wonder who will moni- tor the students to ensure social distancing is safely maintained, Trogstad said. If students are home on Wednesdays while schools are being cleaned, how will ' the district get them lunch- es, she asked. Bus transportation plans can’t be made until the dis— trict develops a schedule on where students will learn, Trogstad said. Robert Herron, the dis- trict’s director of facilities and maintenance, co—chairs the subcommittee on safety and security with Karen Dewitt, the district’s director of safety and security. The state will require that all students and staff have their temperatures taken at the door each school day, and answer questions about possible symptoms, Herron said. The district must de— termine what happens when a student is rejected at the door for health reasons, and when they can return after being quarantined or recov- ering from the disease, he asked. Trevor Leopold, who chairs the subcommittee on Sports and co-curricular activities from kindergarten through the 12th grade, said a rotating schedule might be tough on athletes who don’t have trans- portation available to attend practices. '- “I keep hearing, ‘Are we going to have fall sports?’ ” Apostle said. “I,sure hope so,” Leopold replied. The next community forum will be scheduled for mid-July to review the budget and de- tail the fall plans. “These are challenging times, and we will make mis- takes We will not be per- fect, folks,” Apostle said. $69 Slate (onlr. Reg. No. NORlHRIO33N0 NlIW l’ll'l'l lIN'l' [EXAM {n X WW3: Sl‘tllZl/ll.’ \\ \‘ |"l‘l‘\‘lll\‘ llll' lu'xl drum] \‘\P\‘|lk‘lll\‘ pms’ll‘lw M Kim l,'lllll«.' i.llllll_‘.. ANV DIIN'l‘Al. 'l'lllIA'l‘MlIN’l' , a wwwshclmndcnmisciimumni O O I everyone is smiling! We provide implants, oral surgery, root canals, veneers, crowns, bridges and more. Have your dental work done right here in Shelton and save the driving for the weekend. 1829 Jefferson Street, Shelton - (360) 426-8401 Come see why