During Monday’s Three Rivers Community Schools (TRCS) Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Ron Moag discussed ongoing developments in plans to reopen schools as the COVID-19 shutdown winds down. A task force has been working diligently for the past three weeks to plan for several possible outcomes and developments, Moag said.
According to Curriculum Director Nikki Nash, current projections for the pandemic suggest schools will open with a mix of face-to-face and virtual learning taking place. In what is currently the most likely scenario, Moag said, in-person occupancy of classrooms by students would be 50 percent at a time. For half of the time, half of the students would be in class, with the other half engaged through online programs. The other half of the time, the students would trade places.
A survey of TRCS staff indicated there was a strong need for professional development classes to enable them to adjust to the plans going forward. Signups for these opportunities are ongoing, with around 50 percent of staff enrolled so far. Nash told school board members the mixture of in-person and virtual learning will help teachers adjust to the changes in workload that virtual learning demands, in addition to helping with social distancing concerns.
Nash also said once staff are well-trained and experienced with virtual learning tools, TRCS will be well-positioned to make use of them even after the pandemic has passed.
“These are going to be usable going forward even if we are 100% face to face,” Nash said. “They are good tools for classroom. We’ll be able to use them forever.”
Even if developments go as predicted and permit some in-person classroom time for students, Moag said there will be restrictions that will likely range from use of face masks to checking temperatures, extensive cleaning, and provisions for handling medically fragile students and teachers. Adaptations to busing procedures are also under development.
Plans are subject to change based on pandemic conditions, which the state rates at different numbered levels to indicate levels of risk to schools. The current level is four, and Moag expects an upgrade to five shortly. There is “lots of flexibility with districts based on the level,” Moag said. “If we go back to (level) three, that means no face to face. Level six means we’ve flattened the virus.”
Based on planning that has taken place so far, and on TRCS’ flexibility and adaptability, Moag feels the schools are well prepared for whatever instructions come next from the state.
“There will be another level of planning once that roadmap comes out,” Moag said. “We’re well positioned to handle whatever happens.”
SCHOOL BUDGETS UNRESOLVED
State-level fiscal impacts from the COVID-19 shutdown and the current economic slowdown are affecting final budget figures for the 2019-2020 Fiscal Year as well as planned figures for the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year.
Director of Business Operations Blair Brindley presented a draft budget report for the 2019-2020 year showing a 14.84 percent surplus of revenues over expenditures. Total revenues were $28,994,973, and total expenditures were $28,910,470. These figures will become final once an annual audit is completed, likely in August.
Funding Three Rivers Community Schools are receiving through a grant from the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is being allocated to the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year, Brindley said. There is still much to be determined regarding how much the current situation will impact revenues for the coming year, Brindley said, but worst-case predictions show a predicted deficit of $318,097 between projected figures for revenues and expenditures. Projected revenue stands at $27,422,496, with projected expenses at $27,740,593.
Brindley said projected expenditures factor several assumptions about how costs might be offset or reduced, including implementation of freezes in staffing costs, reduction of all non-essential budget items and other accounts not required to run the school district next year, and absorption of positions that are expected to see retirements in the coming year. The new fiscal year begins on July 1.
In recognition of next year’s likely financial constraints, board of education members voted later in the meeting to suspend board member compensation for the 2020-21 Fiscal Year.
CONTRACT, RESOLUTION APPROVED
The board voted at Monday’s meeting to approve a contract with Mostrom and Associates of Centreville for Land Survey and Title Services, and to pass a resolution supporting continued membership in the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
ADMINISTRATION CONTRACTS APPROVED
The board also approved contracts for TRCS administration staff. Votes were unanimous in favor of contracts for Brindley as well as Norton Elementary Principal Jennifer Graber, Director of Special Education Nancy Lubeski, Andrews Elementary Principal Benjamin McIntyre, and Transportation Supervisor Kenni Jean Schrader. Board members voted 4-1 in favor of a contract for Three Rivers High School Principal Carrie Balk, with Kevin Hamilton casting the single no vote, and with Anne Riopel and Linda Baker abstaining.
Dave Vago is a writer and columnist for Watershed Voice. A Philadelphia native with roots in Three Rivers, Vago is a planning consultant to history and community development organizations and is the former Executive Director of the Three Rivers DDA/Main Street program.
