Students who choose to stay in school rather than quarantine because of exposure to COVID-19 will need to be tested every day, according to a new policy adopted by the Iola school board and recommended by state and local health experts.
Superintendent Stacey Fager asked the board to adopt more frequent testing to line up with recommendations from the Allen County Health Department and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
That testing will be needed for each of the 10 days of a quarantine period, except during weekends.
The previous policy called for testing on the first, third and fifth day.
To accommodate the increased testing, the district will hire an additional nurse through the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas.
The state offers a grant to pay for staff and testing supplies, and the additional hire was approved.
IN OTHER news, the board:
• Agreed to do a student count for the high school’s blended virtual program, to qualify for funding.
• Heard a presentation from Iola Middle School principal Brad Crusinbery about potential window decals and an electronic sign at the school.
• Approved a plan to seek proposals for repairs. Preliminary estimates show it could cost about $114,786 for tuck pointing at the middle school; as well as new downspouts and mow strips for $21,839 at the middle school and $22,590 at the high school; and $6,194 to repair cracks at the track.
• Heard an update on fundraising efforts to buy new books for the new elementary school library. A committee so far has raised $30,000.
