Fisher: As district deals with shutdown, it needs to prepare for future outbreaks

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Charles City Superintendent of Schools Mike Fisher told the District Board of Education Monday that although he’s proud of the way the district has handled the COVID-19 shutdown, Charles City needs to plan for when it happens again.

“I know nobody wants to hear this, but we do have to prepare for another outbreak,” Fisher said at Monday’s meeting.

Fisher said the district is aggressively looking at its long-term strategic learning plan, which was intended to be implemented over three years. He said the learning outcomes and models would be perfect to handle a shutdown three years from now, but the problem is COVID-19 is likely going to be around for several more months.

He said leadership teams are now looking into how to accelerate the work on the strategic plan.

“We’re 18 months out from a vaccine, and if there’s another outbreak that requires another school shutdown, we have to hope for the best but prepare for the worst,” Fisher said. “We’ve got time now — we’ve got time to plan.”

Fisher said he wants a plan that includes learning models, approaches and strategies that fit the district’s mission and core values. He said the plan needs to transcend situations like COVID-19, snow days, and other potential obstructions to teaching and learning.

“It’s not good enough to just hold the line,” Fisher said. “We have to keep getting better.”

Fisher said that a lot of school districts are looking into a ‘Plan B’ for instruction, which includes a lot of online learning.

“The problem with that is the online becomes the learning, when the truth is the online is the way it’s delivered, it’s not the actual learning,” he said. “It’s the actual learning that we need to focus on.”

Fisher said that simply delivering eight hours of teaching every day via ZOOM is not an acceptable alternative.

“That’s not feasible, healthy or wise,” he said. “We’re not looking for a backup plan, we’re looking for a learning plan.”

Several board members voiced their agreement.

“We need to be prepared for the vicissitudes that await us in the coming months,” said director Janiece Bergland.

“I think it’s great to know that we have a plan, and that everyone’s on board with it,” added board President Josh Mack.

All the board members and administrators attended the meeting remotely via ZOOM, due to COVID-19 precautions. The meeting was also open for public comment by phone, and the general public could watch the meeting live on Facebook.

The board also approved a three-year contract extension for Fisher on Monday, and Fisher requested that he receive no increase in his salary.

“I’m fairly compensated, and my family is very happy here,” Fisher told the board. “In light of the current economic situations, I’d like my pay to stay where it’s at for now.”

Fisher’s contract includes a salary of $153,822, plus a $1,000 travel allowance, the same as last year. His health premiums increased 8% and his dental premiums 1.2%.

In other action on Monday, the board approved contracts for the teachers and support staff. Agreements were made with the Charles City Community Education Association and the Charles City Community Educational Services Association. The list of teacher contracts was also approved. Contracts were to be issued immediately to teachers, with a return date of May 20.

The teacher’s agreement advanced the teacher step and lane and increased the regular program base by $100, with no change to base pay. The support staff agreement advanced the staff step and increased the wages by 18 cents. Certification pay was added for the mechanic position, while health premiums increased 8% and dental premiums 1.2% for both teachers and support staff.

Only salaries and wages were negotiated for 2020-21, since a three year agreement on language was reached in 2019-20. The duration of the contract was changed to reflect year two of a three-year contract.

Several board members commented as to the ease of contract negotiations, and how the lack of conflict in the process was a positive for the district overall. Last year, the school district implemented a new process called “interest-based bargaining.”

Fisher said the process goes away from the conflict bargaining of the past, where the parties come from two different positions and essentially argue.

In other business Monday, the board:

— Approved renewal of a memorandum of understanding with the Charles City YMCA, where the district and YMCA  use each other’s facilities without charge.
— Approved the contract amounts for the following previously approved positions, effective Aug. 13: Ray Cole, middle school counselor ($58,687): Noah Dettmer, special education ($38,379); Sam Naumann, 5-12 orchestra ($44,592.10); Jacqueline Groesbeck, special education ($41,280); Katelyn Shultz, special education ($38,379); Ross Chettinger, special education ($38,379); Rachel Page, 3rd-grade ($41,280).
— Approved the contract amounts for the following previously approved positions, effective Aug. 1: Hailey Brown, varsity volleyball ($5,416); Cady Mead, assistant volleyball coach ($3,344); Shari Still, 7th-grade volleyball coach ($2,996).
— Heard a presentation from middle school principal Joe Taylor regarding student engagement.
— Approved a tuition reimbursement agreement with Susan Leeper to obtain a music teaching endorsement.
— Approved a 2020-21 cooperative agreement with University of Northern Iowa for student teaching.
— Approved the resignation of Jenae Noonan, Spanish teacher, assistant girls track coach and cross country supervisor, effective June 30.
— Approved the resignation of Terri Hay as Central Services office assistant, and the appointment of Hay as full time para-educator at a wage of $15.09 per hour, effective at the return of class.
— Approved the appointment of Meredith Hamm, K-6 art teacher, at a salary of $41,280, effective Aug. 13.
— Approved the employee transfer of Tyler Downing, from special education/social studies to social studies teacher, effective Aug. 13.