New class opportunities, an after-school program, installation of new heating and air conditioning units with air purification, and purchase of a large number of new computers are all on the horizon in the South Central School District thanks to COVID-19 relief funding.
Superintendent Kerry Herdes updated the school board Wednesday night on the use of the money as well as more initial discussion on improvements still in the planning stage for the middle school.
Herdes says the learning recovery portion of the grant money will include an after-school program as well as an opportunity for high school students to take higher-level courses beyond those available currently through dual credit.
“We wanted to do this through these funds is encourage our kids to utilize things like the Jump Start Program from KC. Go out beyond our curriculum and offer reimbursement for the classes they would like to take. We would like to expend these funds on things they know they are interested in beyond our curriculum. We are limited with what we can offer with the dual credit programs that we have.”
Herdes reported the new heating and air condition units are currently being installed at all three schools.
“We got half of them in already. We bought 17 HVAC units with bipolar ionization to recycle the air and clean it for Covid and flu items and anything else. We have half of those in about $162,000. We will continue to do that after we do the roof replacement at the grade school we will buy the additional 10. And then we are going to go back and retrofit the ones that were newer with that bipolar ionization kit too.”
Herdes says air purification should be a plus in efforts to block the spread of any type of illness.
Herdes says 280 new chrome books are being purchased for use of students in all three buildings. 40 new desktop computers for teachers are scheduled to be bought this year along with 20 more next year.
In other action, the board confirmed the last day of school will be May 20th. The May 13th graduation for eighth grade and high school is being planned for outdoors unless bad weather forces the ceremonies inside.
The school calendar for next year was approved. Classes for students begin Wednesday, August 18th, with a two-week Christmas break and three-day spring break around Easter.
Glass and Shuffett was approved as the district’s auditor.
The board agreed to make $600 contributions for use of the Lions and Webster fields in Kinmundy and $300 for use of the Farina Village Park diamond.
