Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
Last month’s Hollidaysburg Area School District Committee of the Whole/Voting meeting tabled the elimination of quarantining and contact tracing, but it surfaced very quickly during the January meeting’s public comment section.
Tony Luther, a parent with two children at the Foot of Ten Elementary School, spoke up against contact tracing and quarantining of students, calling for their elimination. He was angry about the quarantining of his daughter and said, “Contact tracing makes no sense. Contact tracing is not needed for our students.”
The elimination of the two were not brought up again during the course of the meeting. There was an important update given by Superintendent Dr. Robert Gildea informing all of the CDC Guidelines recently updated on COVID isolation and quarantine guidelines.
If a student/person tests positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, he/she is to isolate (stay home) for five days following symptom onset or positive test result. If no longer showing symptoms or symptoms are resolving, he/she may return to school while continuing to wear a mask for 5 additional days (Day 6 through Day 10).
An individual determined to be a close contact (to now be defined as anyone within 3 feet for 15 consecutive minutes), regardless of vaccination status, will be required to mask for five days following exposure and continue to closely monitor for symptoms in days 6-10. The CDC recommends all close contacts to be tested on day five if possible. This recommended action was approved by a 8-0 board vote.
Approval of the disposal of surplus textbooks/supplies was tabled until certain board members had the opportunity to examine the books for their value and determine whether or not they were obsolete.
Architects Jeff Straub and Grace Heiland of Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates reviewed the district-wide facility study, including how the study was developed to date for review with Hollidaysburg Area School District Board of School Directors. All options for maintaining facilities were reviewed. Now that the presentation is completed, the team will incorporate final input from the Hollidaysburg Area School District to complete the study within this month for final submission to HASD.
The school board met in executive session on Jan. 12 for personnel purposes. The next Committee of the Whole /Voting meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m. at the Hollidaysburg Senior High School library.
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