WAKEFIELD – With the start of a new school year at in Wakefield scheduled for Thursday, August 19, the Wakefield Community School’s Board of Education met for their last summer meeting Monday evening
The board approved several policy reviews, increased benefits for some employees and briefly discussed their plan for a safe re-opening.
This meeting was also the first official school board meeting for new secondary principal, Angela Zach. Zach is replacing Matt Farup who is now the district’s superintendent. Farup told the board he’s happy with how Zach has integrated into the administrative team and is looking forward to the school year.
“I just think we have a great team and a great staff,” Farup said. “The board has been incredibly supportive, and I think Mr. Wulf and Mrs. Zach have shown me to be an excellent team working together and so I think they’re going to be great for our staff and great for our kids.”
The board approved the 2021-2022 Safe Return to School Plan. Farup told the board that even though COVID-19 cases are on the rise again, he’s confident the plan will allow school to resume much as it had last spring. Masking for students and staff will be optional and social distancing will be observed when possible. The school will continue to follow the guidance of the local health department, CDC and local COVID-19 response team.
The board also approved spending $9,850 on new cabinets, white boards and teacher’s desk for the elementary music room.
Health insurance benefits for classified staff were expanded to 12-month coverage by a unanimous vote by the board. Farup told the board he felt it was the right thing to do to continue to attract those employees.
The Title I program, student fees, bullying policy, multicultural education, and iPad Policies were among those reviewed and approved during the meeting.
A budget hearing will be held at 6 p.m. September 13, with the next regular board meeting to be held September 15th at 5:30 p.m. at Wakefield Community Schools.
