Assistant Editor Jerry Lindsey wrote this report.
The new office of Morrison Community Unit District #6, at 100 E. Knox Street, Morrison, IL, was open for the first meeting of the Board of Education on Monday, August 16, 2021. Over 20 visitors were present. Unfortunately, the high attendance was not to admire the new facilities, but to have opinions heard, on the subject of masking in the schools.
Eight visitors signed up to make Public Comments. Superintendent Scott Vance defined the guidelines for presenting. He limited each presenter to a three-minute window, to recite their concerns and/or point of interest.
Mandatory masking for the students was the focus of the first seven presenters. Each showed a bit of emotion to accompany the nervousness of establishing an opinion, on a topic of major interest within the community. Comments ranged from complete acceptance of the Governor J. B. Pritzker’s Executive Order mandating masking, to an individual stating the disease is not a major factor in the Morrison area. A local business owner felt that the students have interacted all summer without concern; there is no point in masking now. A former teacher reminded the group of the cost of defying the Governor’s order. Defiance could cause the District to lose its accreditation and a major part of its financial contribution from the State.
Superintendent Vance informed the group that the District’s failure to comply with the State mandates could cause the graduating Seniors to lose the Diploma’s accreditation. The District could lose 51% of the current projected budget for the upcoming year. Ignoring the ramifications of opposition has a negative effect on all the students’ academic efforts and proposes an unsafe school environment.
Board members discussed the possibility of taking legal action to oppose the mandate and allow the District to determine its masking position without the mandate. Members speculated that the decision to mandate masks may not change, but their right to make the decision locally would be preferred. The Board authorized Superintendent Vance to investigate the legal options that could be considered for future action.
The eighth attendee to make a citizen comment shared her disappointment in last month’s Board decision, concerning the gender identity issue facing the District.
In additional action, the Board unanimously approved the implementation of the Return to Learning Plan, proposed with an amendment referencing the testing procedures.
The preliminary 2021-2022 budget will be available for viewing in the MCUD office for the next 30 days and then offered to the Board of Education for approval.
In other action, the Board unanimously approved the resignation of Stephanie Briggs (Junior High and High School Music Teacher) and Tony Wright (Head High School Wrestling Coach), and the hiring of Tony Wright (Junior High Wrestling Coach) and Tom Drosopoulos (Head High School Wrestling Coach.)
The Side Letter of Understanding with the Morrison Education Association was unanimously approved. It allows certified employees whose Master Degree program requires an excess of 45 credit hours to be placed in the MA+16 level.
The inaugural meeting of the Board of Education at the new District Office ended with as many questions and concerns as it opened with. The conversations are out in the open, and actions to improve the issues are under consideration.