Dealing With COVID-19 Issues Tops BCS Board Meeting
by Doug La Rocque
In a relatively brief meeting on Tuesday, October 20, the Berlin Central School Board dealt mostly with COVID-19 and its impact on daily school life. School Board President Frank Zwack opened his report saying the District “was very fortunate” that, to date, they have not had any COVID-19 cases among either students or staff. He said it was something on which they make daily decisions, including close observation for anyone with any telltale signs of the disease.
Elementary Principal Tracey Kent said their first virtual open house went very well, calling it a “nice opportunity for the parents” as they try to keep as much of their traditions alive during these rough times. High School Principal Jodi Sullivan said they are looking to recruit more students for some of the school’s various clubs. It is not easy to attract club members when everything is virtual. Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Fred Hutchinson, said they are trying to get a handle on why some students are struggling with remote learning. He said this is especially so for those in a special education program.
Seeing The Fruits Of Labor
District Superintendent Dr. Stephen Young said the most recent capital project is nearly complete, most of the new classrooms are open and the new transportation facility is close to being finished. He hopes it will officially open sometime in late November or early December.
The new baseball and soccer fields still need another year of grass growth before they can be used, but the new track was officially opened with a ribbon cutting on Saturday, October 24. Dr. Young said “I can’t wait to see the track being used for an invitational meet in the future!”
The District hopes to see the community out on the track enjoying it as much as possible. However, residents are asked to be mindful of the newly planted sport fields by keeping off of the grass in the center of the track and the new baseball field at this time. The track gate will be open until dusk.
The Board indicated it plans to meet twice in November to work on the search for a new District Superintendent. Dr. Young announced last month he plans to retire at the end of the year. The Board also approved a number of board policy reviews, dealing with student data breaches, privacy and security, drug and alcohol testing for bus drivers, sexual harassment in the workplace, certifications and qualifications as well as student immunizations.
The annual Fall Festival did not fall victim to the pandemic, being held on Saturday as well. Some inclement weather that morning backed the festival up until afternoon, but could not damped the participants spirits.
The next regular session for the board is set for Tuesday, November 17 at 7:15 pm at the Jr./Sr. High School building.