Board approves Area 30 re-entry plan

As Area 30 prepares to welcome students back to its campus, the career center also has a fluid re-entry plan for the 2021-22 school year.

Area 30’s interlocal board of directors approved protocols and expectations for masking and quarantining at its meeting Wednesday morning.

Masks will be optional at Area 30. However, per a standing federal mandate, they will be required in school-provided transportation. This is with the understanding that they may be required otherwise by the Putnam County Health Department.

Students and faculty who come into proximity with a COVID-positive person will have to quarantine for 11 days unless they are vaccinated and show no symptoms. They can opt out of the quarantine by providing valid proof of vaccination. Additionally, the plan stipulates that a negative test may be required for an unvaccinated student or faculty member to return to Area 30.

No online option for classes at Area 30 will be available. This is to adhere to requirements for in-person training and laboratory experiences according to state standards.

Apart from approving the plan itself, the board gave Area 30 officials authority to amend it according to any local and-or state orders or mandates which may come in the future.

In other business:

• Assistant Director Chad Nunley informed the board that 160 students signed up for classes at Area 30 during its registration day on Tuesday, Aug. 3.

• The board approved a Teacher Appreciation Grant stipulating that a teacher rated Highly Effective will receive a stipend 25-percent higher than one rated Effective. It was noted that this is a yearly grant and that no changes in the policy were made.

• The board approved to use Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) grant money for faculty stipends. Certified and full-time classified staff would be awarded $1,100, while part-time classified staff would receive $550. Area 30 Director Lora Busch said a resolution on the stipends could be forthcoming.

The board also approved the following personnel items:

• Joel Crawley was approved as a part-time instructor for Area 30’s Fire and Rescue program. Meanwhile, the board accepted the resignation of Jason Simonson in the same position.

• Braden Bottorff was hired as Area 30’s technology assistant. He will come on with the resignation of Drew Bottorff, whose last day will be Wednesday, Aug. 11.

Greencastle Superintendent Jeff Gibboney was the only board member absent. Treasurer Cindy Burnham was in attendance.

The next regular meeting of the Area 30 Board is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 14 at 9 a.m. in the Old National Trail boardroom.