By Josh Staloch
Correspondent

SEYMOUR – The Seymour school board, meeting only hours after Gov. Tony Evers extended a statewide mask mandate until Nov. 21, got to the topic of its own mask policy Tuesday, Sept. 22.

The board agreed to comply with Evers’ mask or face covering mandate in enclosed spaces or where people congregate.

It was noted, however, if for some reason the governor’s mask mandate were to be repealed, the district would go back to the board’s previous policy to allow for unmasking on school grounds if 6 feet of social distancing can be achieved.

“I spoke with staff who have students in study hall in the lunch area,” said Superintendent Laurie Asher. “They offer students the chance to go outside the windows, where they can still supervise them, for a break from the masks. But students don’t do it. They choose to stay inside, which I thought was interesting. Very few students, at least at the high school level, are feeling like they need a break from it.”

Pete Kempen, business manager, reported COVID-19 expenditures so far have come to about $166,000.

Among the expenditures are four electrostatic sprayers, one for each of the four buildings in the district, which allow for the effective spraying of disinfectant to surfaces.

“Kudos to the custodial staff on a job well done so far this school year,” said Kempen. “They are really doing a nice job of disinfecting. That goes for our contract cleaners as well. It’s a big part of the reason we’re able to stay open.”

Student enrollment throughout the district stands at 2,024, down about 136 students from last year, but Kempen said the funding difference between this year and last shouldn’t be unreasonable or unmanageable.

All of the following expenditures were approved unanimously:

• A refrigerator and freezer will be purchased from Douglas Equipment at a cost of $5,849.

• A technology education survey will be purchased from the firm School Perceptions at a cost of $8,900, plus postage and supplies.

• The technology education department will buy an edge sander from Home Depot at a price of $4,999.

• The aquatic center’s small pool will get a new roof at a cost of $88,000. The low bid comes from Weinert Roofing, the company currently replacing the roof over the large pool.

• The district will spend $4,916 with Camera Corner to replace security video cameras.

• The board unanimously decided to utilize, for at least the duration of the pandemic, Google Suite for Education at a cost of $4,920, enabling teachers and students to use all of the features of the remote learning service.

The FFA at Seymour High also requested permission to go forward with its annual fruit sale and informed the board of changes to make this year’s sale as safe as possible.

The FFA is going to implement plans to touch the fruit as little as possible.

For example, in past years the club checked each box of fruit to be sold for quality product. This year, the students will forego that step in the interest of eliminating unnecessary touching of fruit.

Instead, it will rely on customers to let them know if there is anything bad in their bunch and offer a full refund.

FFA will also encourage filling out forms and ordering online this year to cut down on as much direct contact as possible. The board unanimously approved the sale proceeding.