HOLYROOD Greg Clark, superintendent of Central Plains USD 112, presented an update on COVID-19 during the Jan. 11 meeting of the district’s board of education at Central Plains Elementary School in Holyrood.

Clark said two classes at CPES are in modified quarantine for 10 days due to the virus. While the students who tested positive are learning remotely from home, the remainder of the students in those exposed classes are quarantined at school.

Clark said he is working with Kerianne Ehrlich, supervisor of the Ellsworth County Health Department, to give saliva tests to the students in the two classes with parental permission. Students who receive a negative saliva test will be released from quarantine in eight days.

In related news, Ehrlich told Clark it would be February before USD 112 staff receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

In other business:

• At the conclusion of a discussion on bleachers, Clark was asked by the board to see what the value of the bleachers at the former Central Plains Middle School in Bushton are in case the district decides to sell them.

Clark shared the following bids for building new bleachers at Central Plains Junior-Senior High School in Claflin: DGJD, $129,000 with a seating capacity of 411 and press box; Pro Bound, $128,000 with a seating capacity of 450 with a press box; Heartland Seating, $60,590 elevated, with a seating capacity of 400 with no press box or $49,500 with non-elevated seating high rise seating but no press box with an estimated cost of concrete between $20,000 and $25,000. A press box would be an additional $77,362.

Clark also provided the following bids to move the bleachers: DGJD, $132,000; Bleacher Medic, $80,000 for the move, $24,680 for concrete, $1,748 for electrical for a total of $106,428; Pro Bound, $120,000. The school district is responsible for the cost of the dirt work.

• During a discussion on livestreaming live school events such as sports, music programs, etc., it was noted H&B Communications in Holyrood will no longer take part. Instead, those events will be livestreamed on the National Federation of State High Schools (NFHS) network.

• The board officers remained the same for 2021 — Brad Schiermeyer, president; Tamara Dody, vice president.

• The resignations of Mark DeWald as band teacher at CPJSHS and Denise Kempke, kindergarten teacher at CPES, were approved. Both will serve through the remainder of the school year.

• The board’s meeting time and dates will stay the same for 2021. The board will meet at 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the schools in Holyrood, Claflin or Wilson, depending upon the month.

• Clark said the district had a memo of understanding with teachers regarding the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Now, classified staff will be included and given 10 days of paid leave if they acquire COVID-19. The employee will not be penalized for the 10 days.

• USD 112 has spent all of the $267,905 it was awarded through the state’s SPARK program for Covid Relief. Clark said the district spent $59,000 on distance learning, $10,000 on personal protective equipment, $33,000 on salaries; $33,000 on disinfectant and cleaning supplies, $81,000 on building modifications, and $21,000 on other miscellaneous items.

• During a discussion on Graduation Alliance, Clark said 369 students aged 20 and older from across Kansas are enrolled in the program, with 70-75 students added each month. Each student is averaging .7 credit points. He said USD 112, as a participant in the program, receives $70.90 for each credit the students earn.

• During a discussion on attendance at winter activities, Clark said if the Kansas State High School Athletic Association does not provide guidelines by Jan. 28, USD 112 will revert back to its former guidelines which establish limits on the number of people attending sporting events in the gyms at the district schools.

• The superintendent evaluation is now complete after an executive session with Clark to discuss his evaluation.

• No action was taken after an executive session with Clark to discuss matters relating to action affecting a student during with Clark reviewed some student information.

The next meeting of the Central Plains USD 112 board of education will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at Wilson School.