MTZ School Board decides on optional masking

By BLAKE FAITH
Staff Writer

The Mt. Zion School Board met on February 22 and approved the amendment of Mt. Zion’s Return to Learn Plan.

The amendment of the Return to Learn Plan included that the schools go to optional masking in schools. The only place masks would be required would be on the buses since that is the federal law, but is difficult to monitor.

There are other optional items on the return to learn plan such as optimal COVID testing for students and teachers as well as optional isolation for close contacts. Now if there is a positive case, the person must stay home for at least five days until symptoms improve.

There were other comments on the document that included legal liability and ISBE. Both were unlikely to happen when it comes to suing or the school losing recognition. The amendment was approved in a 6-0 vote.

Superintendent Travis Roundcount gave a brief COVID-19 update. In January, the Mt. Zion School District had 324 positive cases. In February as of the board meeting there were 29 cases that included nine the week prior and zero that week.

The meeting also included the reading of the Mt. Zion District Report Card and Improvement Plans. Highlights from the report card were the eight grade passing algebra was 48.8 percent for the district compared to a 28.8 percent to the state. Graduation rate was 93 percent for the district compared to 86 percent for the state.

Some highlights from the Mt. Zion improvement plan included in curriculum were that grade levels and content will be reviewed to ensure that standards are being met and best practices are followed. In technology a highlight was district staff will prioritize student data privacy when utilizing software programs both locally and online.

The next Mt. Zion school board meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 22 at 6:30 p.m.