SALAMANCA — The Salamanca Board of Education approved a revised list of district goals at its Dec. 1 meeting, which included the addition of health and wellness.
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Mark Beehler spoke on the district goals and noted several of the revisions and enhancements to the original list.
Concerning Health and Wellness, the district will provide ongoing opportunities for students and staff to engage in health and wellness activities during and after the COVID-19 pandemic to provide a full array of interventions to respond to mental and physical health needs that impact students, staff and the community.
For Engagement, Beehler said the district will engage all community stakeholders with the digital print, public presentations and are working on gathering information to improve.
Under Professional Development, Beehler said the district will expand and focus on digital learning along with the celebration of diversity, promote equity and support continuous improvement.
Concerning Student Achievement and Learning, Beehler said the district will support programming that aligns with its strategic plan.
For Fiscal Management, Beehler said assistant superintendent Karen Magara is working on a long-range fiscal plan that will promote and support the other district goals.
Additionally, Beehler discussed the district’s transition to remote learning after being informed of potential COVID-positive students earlier in November.
Over the four days after the district went to remote learning, several staff members tested positive, Beehler said, but noted each was a separate case and not connected.
“This was the first time that we had a confirmed case on campus,” he added.
Originally the district shifted to remote two-week learning but now it is on remote learning until Jan. 4, 2021.
Beehler said there was no transmission from inside the buildings or buses. Cleaning practices have been updated for those on campus and staff have the option to work inside the buildings.
The district will continue to assess the situation through the holidays, Beehler said, which follows the original plan protocol.
IN OTHER BUSINESS, Hadley Exhibits President Theodore Johnson presented to the board on the charette that his company will conduct for the district concerning incorporating Native American culture in the district buildings.
Johnson said the purpose of this meeting would be to get an agreement on why to do this branding, who the branding should be for and what is the most important message the district wants those who see the branding to leave with.
“For us to do the proper job for you is for us to really understand what those reasons are and that everybody is in agreement on those,” he said.
Johnson said the stakeholders in attendance should be people that can be trusted and include those who are for it and those against it to hear all views and iron things out.
The location of the meeting should be a site with no interruptions as this will be a focused six-to-eight-hour process, Johnson said.
“I’m very excited about working with you and seeing what we can do in our district,” said board member Dr. Megan McCune.
Johnson said the meeting gives them the roadmap from the beginning to the end of the project and has worked well in the past.
Turner Construction representative Matt Sikora said he met with Superintendent Robert Breidenstein and Justin Schapp in hopes of selecting the people from the community. He also said that the capital project’s Phase 3.3 and Phase 3.4 timeline allows for more time to come up with a date for the meeting.
