School Board Discusses Covid, Student Conduct
The East Lansing Public Schools community continues to grapple with issues related to returning to school during the pandemic – including keeping students safe from Covid-19, addressing new and previously existing mental health stressors, and messaging good student conduct – according to discussions at the ELPS Board of Education meeting on Nov. 8.
In order to keep students safe during the pandemic, the district is holding vaccine clinics and implementing other safety measures.
Superintendent Dori Leyko started her Superintendent Report by providing updates on Covid-19 cases in district schools and discussing the new vaccination clinics that have been scheduled for students aged five to eleven.
Two days after the CDC announced on Nov. 2 that children ages 5 to 11 can be vaccinated against Covid-19 with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, ELPS sent an email to parents announcing a vaccine clinic for now eligible elementary school children.
The nearly 200 slots filled in approximately 20 minutes, and some parents voiced frustration that they were unable to reserve appointment spots.
“I wanted four clinics, but we got two. I know people were frustrated when they clicked the full link, but maybe more clinics will come. I’m appreciative that the [Health Department] saw the need and gave us another clinic,” said Leyko.
After the Nov. 9 clinic filled up, another clinic was scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 20. The Saturday date, Leyko said, might be more accessible to some families.
Leyko made it clear that the Ingham County Health Department has been, “responsive and accommodating,” and was aware that East Lansing would have interest in a clinic. The Health Department, she said, was balancing desire in East Lansing with its need to serve all districts in Ingham County.
On Nov. 10, the Ingham County Health Department also announced additional vaccine clinics in the community. Information on those are available here.
ELPS previously offered vaccine clinics, including one in May after the Pfizer vaccine was approved for children age 12 and older. Last week, as the East Lansing High School newspaper Portrait reported, a vaccine clinic was held at East Lansing High School to provide Covid vaccines, Covid boosters, and flu shots to staff.
Leyko and the Board also discussed other Covid-19 mitigation efforts, including weekly Covid testing and the possibility of installing air purifiers in classrooms as windows close for the winter. The district has purchased enough air purifiers for classrooms in three elementary buildings and is looking to purchase more. Red Cedar Elementary’s infrastructure does not require additional air purifiers, and MacDonald Middle School and ELHS already have purifiers.
ELPS is also working to comply with the federal government’s “Path Out of the Pandemic” – the mandate to ensure employers with over 100 employees are either vaccinated or submit to weekly Covid-19 tests.
This mandate wants to see protocols in place by Dec. 6, and all those unvaccinated by Jan. 4 will begin weekly testing, but the mandate is already facing legal challenges.
This mandate does apply to ELPS, and Leyko stated that she is still awaiting Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) guidance but is preparing to continue following federal guidance in the meantime.
The Board also discussed student behavior and adjustment to in-person learning.
As ELi reported in October, parents and teachers have voiced concern about behavior among students since the district returned to fully in-person learning this fall.
Leyko noted that there is a need at the middle and high schools to have additional support monitoring the hallways particularly between periods, assisting with attendance intervention, and advocating for students as they navigate readjusting to in-person learning.
In order to address these challenges, Leyko announced that the district is hiring four new Student Support Monitor positions – two at ELHS and two at MacDonald. These positions are in addition to the two student advocates at the middle and high schools.
In response to a question from Vice President Kate Powers, Leyko explained that, “[The district] will provide training. [Applicants] just need a love and desire to work with middle school and high school kids.”
During public comment, Janelle Orange, representing the East Lansing Education Association – the union that represents teachers in the district – invited Board members to visit any and all buildings in order to give each Board member a personal experience inside the schools they have been entrusted to serve. A few Board members later commented they are happy to take her up on this offer.
Orange also suggested partnering with a local nonprofit, or similar organization, that would be able to send counselors into schools on a regular basis to assist children who are struggling with their mental wellness. Powers endorsed this suggestion during Board discussion.
The district also increased pay for substitute teachers to make these positions more competitive.
The Board discussed better communication and expressed concern about how student behavior has been discussed on social media.
Leyko noted that issues with student behavior are not unique to East Lansing. “[E]veryone is struggling and our answers cannot just be punitive, it has to be supportive and we want to bring people in who see it that way.”
Trustee Monica Fink asked to discuss the violence in ELPS, asking “I know there’s a concern and we are hiring and stoking up mental health staff, but what else can we do to help?”
Leyko responded that better communication needs to be created in order to let families and the community know, “What we are seeing, what we have done, and how we can help.”
Leyko added words of advice to community members and parents to be, “cautious about what you read and post on social media… make sure your information is accurate and [comes] from a source within the school.”
She warned how social media posts – even when students are not named – do not always protect the identity of the vulnerable individuals involved in these highly sensitive circumstances.
“Come directly to us. Don’t use social media as the best resource. Don’t post things about other families, come to us,” Leyko said. (The ELPS staff directory is available here.)
Board President Terah Chambers fought back tears as she addressed how the community has discussed misconduct in schools.
“I am deeply uncomfortable with the community discussion around violence… It’s not about violence, it’s about 20 months of how hard the situation is for parents and students and at home and with teachers… It’s going to take all and many ideas to make things better.”
Fink took an opportunity to plug the successful OK2SAY program, through which tips can be given anonymously regarding information known about harm to oneself or others.
Powers ended the Board Discussion by reminding listeners and the community that, “if things are veering off track, say something, don’t just rely on social media. Flood my inbox, I read every email.”
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