Mt. Pleasant schools consider optional mask policy

MT. PLEASANT — At its regular monthly meeting on Monday night the Mt. Pleasant Community school board directed Superintendent John Henriksen to review the district’s masking policy in the return-to-learn plan for implementation during summer school this year and the upcoming school year next fall.

The school district is looking at options, conditions and data that would make masks optional for the summer school program and beyond.

The policy change would require looking at data points for changing between required and optional masking for the 2021-2022 school year.

The directive comes on the same day the federal Food and Drug Administration approved a key COVID-19 vaccine for children 12 to 15 years old. That directive now needs approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

After review, the amended policy would require a vote later this month before summer school begins.

iJAG teacher

In other news, the Mt. Pleasant School Board approved a memorandum of understanding with the iJAG or Iowa Jobs for American Graduates program to continue providing a teacher for the district.

Already implemented at the 11-12th grades, this year the program will expand to 9-10th graders for specialist Tony Swayzer, to counsel.

The iJAG program aims at reducing dropout rates and assisting high-risk students to improve their after-high-school opportunities.

Teacher contracts

MT. PLEASANT — The Mt. Pleasant school board approved an amended contract agreement with the Mt. Pleasant Education Association. The agreement had a few key changes to contracts that will improve the pay and conditions for Mt. Pleasant Community School District staff.

One key change is the option of a 10-month or 12-month salary payment option to a fixed 12-month option. Meaning that educators can no longer choose between the two. For teachers, there will be an increase to the base starting pay by $275, moving the base pay for teachers to $34,255.

There will be a stepped increase for support staff, including custodians, secretaries, and teaching assistants. There will be a 10-cent, 35-cent, and 15-cent increase respectively.

The board approved the changes unanimously.