Thursday 28th March 2024

In light of the governor’s “stay-at-home” order, board of education meetings have been the topic of superintendents around the state.
In a news release, Marshall Public Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Carol Maher says she believes the necessary and responsible thing to do is to follow the advice of MSBA and make use of Zoom video conferences to meet until the declaration is lifted. She says she will send invitations to MPS Board meetings to members via e-mail.
You can see the information below and the attachment from MSBA’s attorney.
Board Meetings during COVID-19 Crisis
Videoconferenced meetings are allowed under the Sunshine Law and in fact are the best method of conducting business in this social distancing world. The Governor has announced statewide “stay at home” orders, so if districts were not doing this before, they will be doing it soon. Zoom seems to be the method most districts are using, though there are several available.
Dr. Maher says she will be informing the public through the media and on the district’s website (and a Facebook page associated with the site) of methods to access meetings or view prerecorded sessions. She says she will also be offering to bring questions and comments from the public via the board secretary’s e-mail (lperkins@marshallowls.com) to be read in open session. There will not, however, be a “public comment session.” When the statewide order is lifted, she says the board can agree to have an extended public comment session, if desired.
Special Board Meeting:
Dr. Maher says the district has two issues that she believes need attention before the board meeting on April 21; and she would like to schedule a special Board meeting for noon on Thursday, April 9.
1. 2020 Graduating Seniors
MPS Policy IKF lists the requirements for graduation from Marshall High School, and included in these requirements is that seniors must have 25 credits to graduate. Dr. Maher recommends the board waive that policy (for the 2020 graduating seniors only) for this year, making the required total at 24.
Guidance from MSBA: While the state’s requirements of a minimum of 24 credits to graduate still stands, DESE’s regulations give school districts authority to issue variances and substitutions as long as those variances are issued consistently and authorized by board policy. Policy IKF allows students to “earn credit by other means as approved by the board in accordance with law.”
Dr. Maher says it is easy to call a special board meeting and have the board approve variances approved by the superintendent. This is an open-session item, and can be approved by a meeting held by teleconference, video conference or even e-mail. She says but given the importance of issuing a diploma, it is important that board members are involved in this decision.
2. Stipends for Work Not Specified in Job Descriptions
Members of the MPS Social Work Department have worked each day preparing, delivering and serving meals to Marshall students. Dr. Maher says as such, there are many individuals, including teachers and administrators, who are working hard during this crisis. She says the three individuals who work in the MPS Social Work Department, however, put themselves in potential for harm’s way each day. Because their work exceeds the routine duties under which they are employed, Dr. Maher proposes a monthly stipend of $1,000 ($50 per day) for each of the three employees. She says she will apply for FEMA assistance, if eligible, to reimburse the district for these salaries and benefits.
Dr. Maher also says there will be a closed, executive session during Thursday’s meeting to discuss personnel issues.