Assistant Editor Jerry Lindsey wrote this report.
On Monday, August 16, 2021, the monthly School Board of the River Bend District in Fulton, IL, had to move its procedures into a larger room, due to the large attendance of caring families.
Four speakers from the group were given five minutes each, to address the Board. All presenters held a passion for the subject of masking, but each approached the issue differently. Responses to the masking guidelines ranged from approval of the District’s approach of accepting the State mandates, to questioning the seriousness of the pandemic, to the ultimate extreme of the COVID-19 pandemic being totally a Governmental act of coercion, and questioning the existence of the virus.
Following the public comments, Superintendent Hogue defined the school’s options and how refusal to follow State of Illinois guidelines could affect the District financially enough, to affect the safety and education of the students. Each Board member voiced their concerns before the vote was taken, which approved the Plan for Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Service. President Dan Portz asked for parents’ support and the selling of the Board decision to the students.
First Grade instructor Nicole VanZuiden presented a summary of her attendance at a conference entitled “Get your Teach On,” showing great enthusiasm in the subject matter and how it can be used within the River Bend classrooms.
In other action, the Board unanimously approved the following items.
• approved FY22 Tentative Budget for public review and set a date for FY22 budget Hearing on Wednesday, September 22, 2021, at 6:30 p.m., in the River Bend District Office
• approved proposal submitted by Bray Architects for architectural services for STEM room addition at Fulton Elementary School and restroom renovations at Fulton High School
•approved revised 2021-22 Fee Schedule of Extra Curricular activity fees, which were discussed at the July meeting. This is official action on the revisions to reduce one activity fee from $235 to $150; multiple activities from $285 to $180; Middle School from $85 to $65 ($25 paid by parent, $40 paid by Eric Ottens Memorial Fund)
• directed the Superintendent to seek snow removal bids for the 2021-22 school year
• accepted gifts to the District. The District received from River Bend Athletic Boosters $4899 for HUDL for Football and Volleyball; $888.66 for cart, iPad, and hitting boxes; $300 for miscellaneous; $2437 for 24′ Trap Chute; $1000 for Volleyball miscellaneous.