Rugby Public School Board approved changes to school policies including the district’s Safe Return to In-Person and Continuity of Services Plan at its regular meeting, held in the Rugby High School Library on Feb. 8.

The return to school policy was implemented to comply with requirements to receive Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. The changes in the policy, effective Feb. 8, strike references to requirements for household contacts that differ based on vaccination status. The revised policy also eliminates references to the district partnering with the North Dakota Department of Health for individuals testing positive or identified as close contacts. Additionally, the revision also deletes a passage that refers to the district engaging in contact tracing “at the building level, depending on the impact of COVID-19 within the school and community.”

The revised policy reduces the number of days COVID-positive staff and students must isolate to five. Those returning to school “while being expected to wear a well-fitting mask while around others.” Individuals with COVID must be symptom free and fever free without medication for at least 24 hours before they can return. Household contacts would be allowed to stay in school if they submit to testing and receive negative results on two consecutive tests.

Students who are close contacts to positive cases identified at school will receive notifications at their homes through the schools’ instant alert system. The revised text adds, “In the unlikely event that students are sent to school while positive or listed as a household contact, students will be educated in an isolated setting until the family is able to pick up the student to take them home.”

The revised policy also offers families the opportunity to request rapid testing at their child’s school Monday through Friday. Those requesting the tests should contact their child’s school for more information.

The board opened the discussion to public input. Parent Dallas Hager asked for clarification on the mask policy for those returning to school.

“That’s a recommendation?” Hager asked. “So you’re positive, you come back to school after five days, but the next five days, it’s still your choice to wear a mask? That’s the way I read it.”

District Superintendent Mike McNeff answered, “I just want to remind everyone that people who are testing are interested in wearing a mask anyway. If I go through all the kids and adults that ask for testing, they’re more apt to follow what we (require). If you’re not testing, you’ll never know. You don’t have to follow these rules because you’re not testing.”

In other business, the board approved January financials and bills. The board also approved child rearing leave request for district speech therapist Skye Cargo and reviewed resignations from two Rugby High School teachers.

The board also voted to set aside June 7 for school board member elections, with the polling place as Rugby High School.

The board also approved a 2022-23 school calendar and changes to school policies recommended by a district committee. The policies cover virtual instruction, religious displays, carrying weapons, suspension and expulsion, educational records, privacy and complaint procedures.

The text of the approved changes will be available on the district’s website.

The board voted to authorize early bid packages from Consolidated Construction to secure materials needed for upcoming work to expand the Ely Elementary School building and campus.

The board also heard reports from Ely Elementary School Principal Jason Gullickson, Rugby High Principal Jared Blikre and District Business Manager Dawn Hauck.

Hauck told the board the district’s balance sheet has seen a $630,000 increase due to funds received from various programs the district applied for in recent months. The funds will be transferred later to the district’s building fund. Hauck said activity and hot lunch fund balances were normal.

Gullickson told the board he looked forward to a district spelling bee, to be held on Feb. 9 at Ely Elementary School. Parent-teacher conferences at the school have been scheduled for Feb. 14-15 between 4-7 p.m. Gullickson added Ely students were celebrating Reading Month in February and they had designated Feb. 22 as “Twosday.” Students and staff planned to wear items such as tutus, ties, tennis shoes, tie dyed clothing or any item displaying the number 2.

Blikre reported Rugby High students were busy wrapping up their winter sports season, with district, regional and state competitions coming in late February. The high school’s Future Business Leaders of America Chapter planned to celebrate FBLA Week on Feb. 14-18.

The school board will hold its next regular meeting March 8 at 7 a.m. in the Rugby High School library.