By Tanna M. Friday, Managing Editor
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville City Schools Board of Education met on Tuesday, Sept. 21 with a theme of school culture and climate as a top priority of the 2021-2022 school year.
School administration shared excitement of the new culture prior to the start of the meeting, and there was an air of excitement in kicking off a solid new school year.
In attendance were TCC Superintendent Dr. Pattie Neill, Kathy Brown (Board President), Dr. Steve Ward (Vice President), Mark Sims, Kim DeShazo, and Sherrye Tolbert. Principals, Joy Tyler (Cahaba Elementary School), Dr. Phyllis Faust (Magnolia Elementary School), Dr. Lisa Lothpeich (Paine Elementary School), Jennifer Abney (Hewitt-Trussville Middle School), Tim Salem (Hewitt-Trussville High School) as well as Superintendent, Dr. Pattie Neill participated in the meeting.
Around the city, many families say they are glad to send their children back to school buildings, as more employers are requiring in-person work and remote learning has been difficult for both parents and students to manage. Physical classrooms promise more academic support, a chance to socialize, and access to special education services that are difficult to provide remotely.
School administration have vowed to protect students and educators with a mix of safety measures, including universal masking of all students and social distancing of at least three feet. According to the reopening plan from www.trussvillecityschools.com, students are to wear masks during school bus transport and in class settings where they are within three to six feet of others. Masks are not designated for students in uncrowded hallways, outdoors, in cafeterias, or any other time where social distancing can be achieved.
See previous story: TCS releases reopening plans including masking policies
According to Dr. Pattie Neill’s report to the Board of Education, Trussville City Schools had 21 positive COVID cases reported among students/employees for the week of Sept. 13-17, 2021. These numbers are reported to the Alabama Department of Health (ADPH) each Tuesday afternoon, and updated on the ADPH Schools’ K-12 Dashboard every Wednesday.
“We are in our seventh week of school,” said Neill. “It has gone by rapidly. We are tracking our numbers for positive COVID cases. Every Wednesday the ADPH dashboard updates numbers reported which showed a positive direction for our system. We want to keep up that trend.”
Dr. Neill thanked the school administrators, nurses, principals, and teachers for helping create a safe and nurturing environment.
School nurses provide a weekly report to the state COVID-19 dashboard as well as send students home when they are sick or exhibiting symptoms of OCIVD-19 and notify parents if their child has been exposed to the virus. Students who have tested positive for COVID-19 will be able to continue their classroom on Schoology and will have a quarantine facilitator to monitor their progress on schoolwork and health.
In other matters, the Board approved:
- Accounts payable for August 2021;
- Payroll for August 2021;
- Financial for August 2021;
- Board work session record and board meeting miniatures for August 31, 2021;
- Music Therapy Milestones Contractor Notice;
- The following field trips:
- HTMS Choir to Universal Studios in Orlando, FL on May 4-7, 2022;
- HTMS Band to Orlando, FL on May 4-7, 2022;
- HTHS Cross Country Team to State in Moulton, AL on November 5-6, 2021;
- HTHS/HTMS Girl Soccer to Foley, AL on February 10-12. 2022;
- HTHS Competition Cheer to ESPN in Walt Disney World for Cheer Nationals on February 9-16, 2022;
- HTHS Boys Basketball to Knoxville, TN on October 15-17, 2021;
- HTHS Boys Basketball to Opelika High School on December 3-4, 2021; and
- HTHS Boys Basketball to Beech High School in Hendersonville, TN on December 20-22, 2021.
- Contracts for HTHS which include The Events at Haven and DiJital Entertainment;
- FY22 Bid Statement;
- 2021 fiscal school Federal Funds;
- Rhythm Agreement;
- Lease Purchase agreement for mower for Soccer Teams;
- EDF 09-21-21-01;
- Change orders for new central office (CO 19-27-16 and CO 19-27-14);
- October 6 as a Remote Learning Day for 9th grade students on the 21-22 school calendar;
- Termination of contact;
- Contract/agreement with Ready Sub;
- SMORE Master District License;
- Technology Agreements/Contracts:
- Veeam Renewal;
- SMART Learning Suite License Renewal;
- WORF ManageEngine Service Desk Software Renewal;
- Blackboard; and
- Go Guardian.
- Superintendent recommendations regarding changes in personnel, contracts, extra services, and supplements; and
- Delegate, Mark Sims, and an alternate delegate, Kathy Brown, for the AASB Delegate Assembly on December 2, 2021 at the Wynfrey Hotel.
The October Monthly Board meeting will meet on Monday, October 25 beginning 5 p.m. in the Board Room of the Central Office. The Board Meeting and Work Session will be live streamed. Link is available on the TCS website at 1:45 pm October 25.