MTZ School Board approves return to learn plan

By BLAKE FAITH
Staff Writer

The Mt. Zion School Board met on August 9 and approved a return to learn plan, the second reading of policy updates and heard a former show choir director talk during a public session.

This year, the Mt. Zion school district will continue to have regular school attendance days, times and events. The district will recommend , but not require self screening/temperature checks before schools. The use of masks will also be optional and not required.

In the policy updates, the board approved the second reading that included policy updates to multiple student aspects such as bullying, harassment, student and family privacy rights, sucide and depression awareness and prevention procedures and information. For bullying, harassment and intimidation there will not be a tolerance.

During the public session former assistant Show Choir Director Cyndi Johnson spoke about how she was not picked as the new show choir director and how the communication was not right to her. Johnson applied for the open Director position for the Show Choir Program. After 22 consecutive years and 25 overall years with the district, Johnson was asked to apply online and submit a cover letter for the job that she felt made her like an outsider.

Johnson was interviewed, but didn’t find out the decision via the board, but through her son who was in a show choir group chat that announced the new director. Johnson ended her use of her public forum by saying she was hurt, disgusted and felt undervalued due to this process.

The Mt. Zion School Board will meet next on September 20 at 6:30 p.m.