By China Cassidy The Joseph City Unified School District held their monthly meeting last Tuesday, to discuss what is expected heading into the new semester. While Superintendent Bryan Fields noted that there are really no significant changes taking place, he highlighted a few areas of focus. He said that the district is attempting to bring a vaccine clinic to Joseph City, not only for the staff at JUSD but also other community members who qualify. According to Fields, in a survey he sent to staff via email asking whether they would get the vaccine if it were provided, 31 people responded. Of the 31, 16 opted to take the vaccine should it become available, and 15 said they would rather not. Because the number of people wanting the vaccine was considerably low, the healthcare establishment that Fields had hoped to outsource for the vaccine said they could not make the trip. Fields relayed, “North Country Health Care (NCHC) told me it might be a better option to bus people to Holbrook to get it done.” Because there are other entities like the Joseph City Volunteer Fire Department as well as residents over 75 who would qualify to take the vaccine at this time, Fields and the board entertained the idea of teaming up with the fire department to get NCHC to go to Joseph City. While NCHC did not give them a specific number for how many people would need to be willing to receive the vaccine, Fields said he is going to speak with them to get that number and then try to acquire enough participants to justify the clinic making the trip. “If you’re over 75, you’re in that phase. If that number is 25 and we could find some people in the community that would want to come to the school who are in that category, it would be worth it,” explained Fields. In other business, Fields presented the board with a newly revised calendar that would extend the instructional days by two. After a brief discussion, the board approved the new calendar. Fields also announced that AIA sports will continue with their current activities. “The AIA reconvened and met (last week) and revoted on sports, and they are going to have sports. But they put some rules in there.” He explained that players will now be expected to wear masks and attendance will be limited. “Only (the) mother and father can attend for home games, they can’t travel. Referees will stop the game and leave if they see people without masks who are not following the rules.” Fields also noted that Tuesday was the first practice that the players wore masks during practice and there were no issues. In new business, the board: * Approved the resignations of Mary Spurlock, Instructional Aide effective Dec. 28, and Instructional Aide Annalise Castellano effective Jan. 14. * Approved the employment of Lisa Gayer, Trina Larsen and Mary Spurlock as substitute teachers. * Approved a request by the boys’ high school basketball team to conduct a fundraiser where they will sell discount cards to community members for discount services at local businesses for $15 each or $10 if more than one is purchased at one time. * Approved the extension of the deadline for employees to utilize remaining leave balances under the Families First Coronavirus Recovery Act through March 31, 2021.
