Mendota High Board approves modified prom

District will host prom outdoors

The Mendota High School board approved a modified prom at its monthly meeting Monday.

Only MHS juniors and seniors will be allowed to attend the prom, which is scheduled for May 22.

Students will be required to wear face masks, and social distancing guidelines will be followed.

The event will be in the back parking lot of the school. There will be COVID-19-safe games and activities – and the committee is looking into the logistics of having food trucks where students could buy food.

There also will be a grand march for parents in the front parking lot. The students will walk out the front doors, walk around the circle in front of the school and then return through the auditorium doors.

12-month ag teacher

The board voted to take part in a Three Circles agriculture grant, which will allow the school to make the agriculture teacher a 12-month position as opposed to a nine-month position.

Prusator said the grant is common for schools with agriculture departments. He also said MHS is in the minority with a nine-month ag position. Prusator said most schools have ag teachers on a 10-month or 12-month contract.

The state covers 50% of additional costs of the extended position.

Prusator told the board the additional cost for MHS would be about $6,200.

“For a reasonable amount of money, you get the benefit of 12 months instead of nine months,” Prusator said. “It will afford Mr. [Matt] Meyer more opportunities and time to work with students.”

ESSER funds

Prusator told the board that the district has about $1.5 million in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund grants designed to make up for learning gaps caused by the pandemic.

The first two ESSER grants had no restrictions, but the third grant requires 20% of the money to be spent on instructional loss.

“When we make the presentation to the board for approval, there’s going to be some type of additional instruction before or after school, in the evening or possibly Saturdays. We’ll add social and emotional support from outside agencies.

“We’re hoping to do the best we can to impact the most amount of kids impacted by the pandemic. It’s one heck of a challenge and one heck of a responsibility, but we’re going to try to bring the most sound recommendation we can. We’re open to any parent or community member suggestions or ideas.”

Personnel

The board approved the renewal of the assistant principal Joe Masini, the reemployment of athletic director/freshman dean Steve Hanson, school psychologist for one day a week, the speech pathologist based on needs and minutes in MHS IEPs and the noncertified staff, along with the hiring of special education teacher Kyra Koskotas.